IT’S not enough that the Penang government has shared with the media the 56 conditions that the Environment Department has attached to its approval for the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) project, the state must also make the information available online.
 
Penang Forum’s Khoo Salma Nasution said the conditions should be made available online for people to interpret them as they will.

“I think in any city, that would be the practice. The conditions are guidelines to address environmental impact and safety issues. They are not confidential material or something to hide,” she told The Malaysian Insight this evening.

Earlier today, the chief minister disclosed the 56 conditions at a press conference, acceding to the demands of Penang Forum, Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Consumers Association of Penang yesterday for them to be made public. 

Chow Kon Yeow announced announced yesterday the DOE’s conditional approval of PIL1. 

PIL1, which is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan, is opposed by groups citing environmental concerns. 

They also argue that building more roads will not solve Penang’s traffic congestions problems..

Salma said it would be good for the PIL1 conditions to be released online for public scrutiny.

“We can study the conditions, and maybe even spot something that needs to be looked into.

“We should all be working together for the betterment of Penang,” she said.

Salma added that the same should apply to the 59 conditions for the construction of three other major roads in the PTMP.

The EIA for the North Coast Pair Road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang (Package 1), the Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass (Package 2), and Persiaran Gurney-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass (Package 3) received conditional approval last year.

The conditions include preparing an environmental management plan before construction can begin; putting measures in place to address water runoff, siltation and erosion, and to stabilise slopes; implementing controls on rock blasting; and safeguarding the quality of the environment.

The conditions were also released in a press conference last year.
 
On Facebook today, Salma repeated her concern that the PIL1 project could violate the Public Works Department’s slope design guidelines.
 
She asked DoE whether PWD had approved the highway’s design or alignment as it was, or the project proponents had amended it to conform to the slope design guidelines that stated the design for cut slopes should not exceed six berms. 

“PIL1’s EIA in its second volume showed many instances that exceed that limit, even up to 29 berms.”

PWD guidelines stated that if a slope design requires more than six berms, other solutions like tunnel, rock shade or bridges could be considered.

A berm refers to level space, shelf or raised barrier, usually made of compacted soil, separating two areas. Berms are also used to control erosion and sedimentation by reducing surface run-off.

Chow said the relevant departments should address the matter, when asked to comment today. – April 16, 2019.