Turf club members in two minds
Triumphant trotter: Tan (right) with her horse, Penang Man, after winning a race at PTC in Batu Gantong on Jan 27.

Uncertain future for horses, rezoning may cost RM1bil

GEORGE TOWN: Horse owners at the Penang Turf Club (PTC) have been caught in two minds over the next course of action for their horses based at the club in Batu Gantong.

Janet Tan, an ordinary member, said she fully understood why PTC decided to dissolve the 160-year-old turf club but questioned the timing, which took her by surprise.

“The horse population in Penang is diminishing with about 15 horses left. I believe the turf club doesn’t have much choice but to take this path.

“After the sale, I hope they will maintain a private member’s club here at Batu Gantong for us to enjoy live telecasts of the sports from other turf clubs,” the businesswoman said.

Tan said she has yet to decide what to do with the three horses she owns.

Another horse owner, Albert Au, concurred, saying that he would only decide the fate of his eight horses later, after the sale of the club’s land.

“I’ve been a club member for 15 years. If they (PTC) continue to run it, I will certainly have horses available for racing.

“But if they close it down ... I could transfer my horses to the Perak Turf Club or the Selangor Turf Club,” the Johor-based businessman said.

A property surveyor said any conversions of the PTC land from its present recreational status to mixed-development will cost a hefty sum to the tune of RM1bil.

CA Lim Property Surveyors Sdn Bhd principal Datuk Lim Chien Aun said the successful bidder first would have to submit their master plan for the redevelopment of the PTC site.

“The local authorities will grant the property mixed-development status if they have no problems with the master plan,” he said.

However, Lim said the owner could also submit a master plan with commercial and residential developments.

“This would lower rezoning charges, which is less for residential reclassification,” he said.

Current charges to convert the PTC site into a commercial status, he said, would cost about RM1bil.

According to Lim, the master plan would also require the consent of the nearby residential neighbourhoods, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act.

“The master plan would have to be publicly displayed for a certain period for the stakeholders to view and present their comments,” he added.

Last week, The Star front-paged a report that the iconic 160-year-old PTC – the oldest of the three horse-racing clubs in Malaysia – was likely to sell its 81ha land for up to RM6bil.

An extraordinary general meeting has been set for June 10 to obtain approval from the club’s ordinary members for the sale of the land.

Given that the present market value of commercial land in George Town is about RM700 per sq ft, the site is expected to fetch around RM6bil upon conversion to commercial status.

In 2007, the Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) project was proposed on the PTC land.

The PGCC project included two five-star hotels, a Penang performing arts centre, a retail complex, two office towers, residential properties, a world-class meeting and convention centre, an observatory tower, parking space, monorail transportation, as well as a public arena.

However, the grand plan stalled after a new administration took over Penang in March 2008.
turf club
GEORGE TOWN: Horse owners at the Penang Turf Club (PTC) have been caught in two minds over the next course of action for their horses based at the club in Batu Gantong.