‘We welcome highway plan feedback’
> Residents affected by PIL 1 urged to speak up as it’s still in initial stage: CM
GEORGE TOWN: Residents whose premises are affected by the proposed preliminary alignment of the Pan Island Link (PIL) 1 can still provide feedback to the state government as planning is still in the initial stage.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the preliminary design is not final yet and the state is willing to deliberate with concerned stakeholders on the matter.
“Everything is still under discussion, no decision has been made yet, we will sit down with them and confirm the best routes and we will find ways to minimise impact,” he said during a press conference at the State Assembly building.
Chow said the feedback session for the PIL 1 Highway project, which is open to the public including those from nongovernmental organisations, will be extended until Sept 7.
The proposed highway will alleviate the heavy traffic load at Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, Pengkalan Weld, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Jelutong and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah.
In the state assembly, Chow ticked off an assemblyman who criticised the line up of the state exco.
Outspoken Norlela Ariffin (PKRPenanti) said the exco members should have been selected on merit and not by the number of seats the party won.
She said it was unfair to PKR, Amanah and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) as DAP has more exco seats.
She had previously stated that more PKR elected representatives should be appointed as exco members compared with DAP in the last polls.
She added if PKR, PPBM and Amanah were to be treated as a block, then the three parties would have 18 seats, close to DAP’s 19.
Chow begged to differ by saying DAP would also have more seats if combined with Amanah and PPBM.
Giving the prime minister as an example, Chow said he should come from the party with the most seats.
“However, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is from PPBM although PKR has more seats in Parliament,” he said during the question and answer session at the House.
Norlela had in her written question posed why some assemblymen were not included in 30 committees set up by each state executive councillor.
She said even some representatives whose places were affected by floods were not part of the state Flood Mitigation Committee.
Chow responded by saying the committees are formed as per the portfolio, adding that appointment into the committee depends on vacancy.