Hock Seng: NCPR it is, we exhausted all other options

GEORGE TOWN: The state had brainstormed alternatives to the limited road access to Teluk Bahang and Batu Ferringhi before the North Coastal Paired Road (NCPR) was devised, said state works committee chairman Lim Hock Seng.

An expressway on giant stilts over the sea along the coastline, a tunnel and water taxis were among the ideas considered, but all were found to be impractical, he said.

“Both the expressway on stilts and tunnel were very expensive.

“The tunnel idea was scrapped while it was still on the drawing board because of the astronomical costs involved,” Lim said, responding to demands from Tanjung Bungah Residents Association (TBRA) to scrap the 10.53km NCPR, citing environmental concerns.

Lim added that the existing road, a federal road which the state has no jurisdiction over, was more than a century old with a foundation that used conservative technology.

The road was framed tightly between private land and public beaches, making the chance to upgrade and widen the road nearly impossible, he said.

As for adding water taxis as a public transport alternative, he said it would be slow and costly too.

“If the sea is rough, it can take about an hour from Teluk Bahang to Tanjung Bungah on a boat full of passengers.

“That is the reality of water travel. It’s still in the planning stage, but we don’t think it will be feasible for the northern residents to commute to the city by boat daily,” he said.

At a press conference on Sunday, the TBRA said it wrote to the Department of Environment (DoE), urging it not to approve the detailed environmental impact assessment, which was done by an independent consultant, because the NCPR involved deforestation and construction on hill slopes steeper than 25°.

However, tourism players in Teluk Bahang were balking at TBRA’s objection.

Escape Adventureplay chief executive officer Sim Choo Kheng said those who opposed the NCPR were being one-sided and ignoring the misery of the people in Teluk Bahang and Batu Ferringhi.

“Don’t be so selfish. A highway doesn’t mean we will destroy everything. You are talking about our livelihood here and our area’s growth is stunted because of the poor road access,” said the theme park owner in Teluk Bahang.

Echoing his sentiment was Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm CEO Joseph Goh, who said with the NCPR, motorists would have an extra route to choose from.

“When a landslide happened in Teluk Bahang last November, the road was closed for two weeks and it badly affected businesses and residents.

“We need the NCPR very much. With a four-lane road, tourist buses will make it to Teluk Bahang more easily and tourists will spend less time travelling and more time to have fun,” he said.