Penang CM: BN strategy to cancel PTMP rejected by people

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the opposition's strategy to cancel the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which includes three highways and tunnel project (Pan-Island Link), has been rejected by the people.

In the 14th general election, Chow recalled that the BN tried to use it as the main campaigning issue to cancel the project.

"However, the people had made a decision, you can say by voting us in and in a stronger term, they did not agree with the opposition's electoral strategy to use the votes to cancel these projects," he said in Penang today.

"The answers from the people are very clear but we are open to local communities who may not have had prior knowledge of the alignment of the highways (Pan-Island Link 1 or PIL1)," Chow added, after attending a briefing session on the road project for MPs and state assemblypersons.

He was asked to comment on a petition to the state government titled "Keep Penang beautiful without pollution & negative environmental impact".

A group of concerned citizens who want the project cancelled mooted the petition which has so far collected more than 1,000 signatures.

They raised their concerns after reviewing the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the proposed PIL1 (Phase 1) which is currently on public display in Penang. 

"From the information given in the EIA, it is clear that the PIL1 will adversely affect the lives of ordinary people," said the petition.

"Clearly, the noise, vibration, congestion and inconvenience during the construction period is a serious issue.

"What more, the noise, dust and exhaust fumes from the high volume of vehicles using the completed PIL1 will be a permanent cause of pollution and annoyance," the petition added.

The petition stated that the properties located along the six-lane expressway and its feeder roads may drop in value due to the project.

It said the "scenic beauty, tree-lined roads, and landmarks which are etched in the memories of Penangites and tourists will be lost or overshadowed by the expressway".

"Would the blasting of the hills cause landslides in Youth Park, Paya Terubong and Relau? Increase flash floods in Paya Terubong, Ayer Itam, Relau and other places? Will it cause the Penang Hill funicular railway to go out of alignment?

"We do not know and no one can guarantee its safety," the petition further lamented.

"The EIA has downplayed the potential impacts of the PIL1 on the health and wellbeing of residents, working people, schoolchildren and elderly people."

Chow said it has been explained that the petition's concerns have been looked into.

He noted that a cable-stayed bridge will be built and only two pylons will be erected at either end of the park to reduce the visual impact towards the Youth Park.

In Sungai Ara, he added, it will be built with the least land acquisition.

Asked if he would meet those behind the petition, Chow said Penang's public engagement has been the most extensive.

"This phase is for them to voice out, after that we will collate all the opinions and views. It will be our responsibility to answer the Department of Environment on the concerns of the communities and definitely, we will be open to more public engagement," Chow replied.

"With this briefing, we hope the MPs and assemblypersons would share the information with their constituents. Our project team will be there to brief the local communities," he added.

Representatives from the three highways and tunnel builder, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, and the state's PTMP project delivery partner, SRS Consortium, were at the briefing. -Mkini