SOME 20 people representing various residents’ associations in Penang gathered in front of the state assembly building this morning to protest the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan.

Khee Phaik Cheen, 70, who was a former Gerakan state tourism exco, said that even though the people supported Pakatan Harapan in the election, it did not mean the state could do as it liked.

“I also supported PH to clean up kleptocracy and the alleged murder. Any decent person would have voted for change (in GE14).

“But it doesn’t mean the state has carte blanche to do this. You can’t just benefit a few developers at the expense of the state,” said the former Batu Uban assemblyman, who was representing the Jesselton residents’ association as its secretary.

The PTMP is a comprehensive integrated public transport plan to address Penang’s worsening traffic problem. It proposes new highways and an light rail transit (LRT) line, among others.

The main grouses of the protesters today were on the proposed Komtar-Bayan Lepas LRT and Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1).

PIL1, a RM7.5 billion highway that connects Persiaran Gurney in the north and the second Penang Bridge in the south, is part of the PTMP.

The 19.5km infrastructure is made up of 70% hill tunnels through Penang Hill and the hills of Paya Terubong and Sg Ara; and a 250m cable-stayed bridge across the popular Youth Park, an important green lung and recreational area on the island.

Kee urged the state government to drop the project, citing its high cost along with the potential environmental degradation.

“They are going to dig holes into our precious granite hills. Those are not ‘kecik mayong’ (tiny) holes.

“This highway (PIL1) will make us into monkeys with car keys. Anyone supporting this will be training the younger generation to be monkeys with car keys.

“Do you realise how much the masterplan will cost? RM46 billion… how are we going to pay for that, and for the maintenance of the tunnels? The future generation will have to pay.”

Kee said she understood the traffic problem, namely during rush hour, but there must be alternative measures, other than new roads and the LRT.

Her husband Choong Sim Poey, a former councillor and Penang Heritage Trust president, said no city in the world effectively solved traffic problems by building more roads because the same problem would return a few years later.

“European countries are all going for better public transport and reducing private car use. If we do this, we will end up like Bangkok and Manila in a few years. We don’t want that,” he said.

While the protest went on for about 30 minutes outside the building, the PTMP was also discussed in the House during question time.

Opposition leader Muhamad Yusof Mohd Noor (BN-Sungai Dua) asked Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Padang Kota) whether the PTMP would be continued if there were too many objections from the people.

He also asked Chow if the state would proceed with the master plan if the Environmental Department did not give its approval.

Chow said the state government would not proceed with the project unless it obtained all the requirements set by the department and secured all the needed approvals from relevant authorities such as social, heritage, and environmental impact assessments.

“I believe the department will study all views and reports. We also will not implement the master plan without fulfilling requirements and getting approvals.”

Chow also said 229 engagements had been conducted by agencies, although they were not required by law.

“We did it because we are aware the projects we propose are massive. We engaged with associations, focus groups, individuals, civil society groups. That is still ongoing.

“As long as we don’t have the approvals, we will not start the projects, and we will have to continue holding engagements to convince the people that the PTMP is important for Penang’s future,” he said. – August 6, 2018.