THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is to come out with its own guidelines on providing a better leeway for confinement centres to operate next year.
Councillor Wong Yuee Harng said MBPP is expected to have its own guidelines to ensure the centres could be operating without any hassle.
He said the council only has authority to control on the premises in terms of its building structure, zoning and licencing.
He, however, said it does not include the operation of the centres which falls under the purview of relevant authorities.
“I am glad that the council spontaneously plans to come out with new guidelines next year.
“I hope it can be drafted soonest to cater to the needs of the people towards confinement centres,” he told reporters after attending a council meeting at City Hall today.
Fellow councillor Nur Zarina Zakaria said confinement centres were important nowadays.
In another development, MBPP has given the greenlight for the expansion of Penang International Airport (PIA) in Bayan Lepas.
MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said the approval on planning permission was given to Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) early this month.
“We hope the expansion work can commence soonest,” he said
An English daily today front-paged an article titled ‘Penang airport gears up for upgrade’.
The airport is expected to accommodate 12 million passengers per annum with its new design.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan