DAP rep: Prioritise public transport, not undersea tunnel

GEORGE TOWN: A DAP representative has expressed her reservation on the planned undersea tunnel project in Penang, saying what was more important for now was im­­proving public transportation.

Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey said the undersea tunnel project was a low priority as it would not be needed until 2030 under the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

“The state government will have a land swap deal with a consortium to implement four projects costing RM6.3bil. I feel a better deal will be for a land swap which will provide better public transportation facilities,” she said at a press conference at her service centre here yesterday.

Yap was referring to the deal with Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd which would see the implementation of the 6.5km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel, the 4.2km Gurney Drive-Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass, the 4.6km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu-Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass and a 12km road connecting Tanjung Bungah with Teluk Bahang.

She said she felt the state government was being sidetracked with the planning of the undersea tunnel project and Sri Tanjung Pinang Phase 2 project in Penang instead of giving importance to public transportation in the state.

When asked why she was raising the matter now after the signing of the preliminary agreement between the state government and the consortium, Yap said: “This is the time for me to raise the issue. As an elected representative, I have to carry out my responsibility to the public.”

Yap said about 10,000 new vehicles were registered every month in the state and the population in Penang was expected to increase to 2.5 million people by 2030.

“We will face severe traffic congestions even with the third link if effort is not taken to reduce the number of vehicles,” she said.

She said one of the PTMP highlights is for the state government to immediately focus on having pedestrian-friendly roads while another is for the introduction of trams bet­ween George Town and the Penang International Airport.

On March 2, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the undersea tunnel was still needed despite the opening of the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge.