State reps rebuff PIL-1 dialogue

> No-show at talks mooted by Penang Forum despite invitations

GEORGE TOWN: Civil society’s move to reach out to the state government over the dispute on the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL-1) highway project under the Penang Transport Master Plan have been rebuffed by the state government.

No state representatives were present at the dialogue mooted by the Penang Forum – an umbrella body of civil society, despite invitations being sent out earlier and the event made viral on social media.

However, the forum leaders, Khoo Salma Nasution and Dr Lim Mah Hui, went ahead with the dialogue to voice their concern on the PIL-1 project.

They said the ecology and the people will be affected by the construction of the 20km-long highway which was designed to cut travelling time from many localities to Bayan Lepas by 15 minutes.

Among those that will be affected are the 6,800 students and 665 teachers in two of the oldest Chinese vernacular schools in the country – Phor Tay and the Penang Chinese Girls School. Jermal Court and Jermal Jaya residents as well as business interests in Bagan Jermal would also not be spared.

Khoo’s version was in contrast with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow who had earlier said only one house in Gottlieb Road might be affected as well as some 600 squatter houses along the Sungai Kluang river reserve area.

Khoo said the project delivery partner did not address the concerns expressed earlier by resident groups.

After going through the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Khoo said the forum felt that the project was rushed through.