THE environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) states that the multibillion ringgit “super highway” passing through tunnels cut in hills and across recreational and residential areas will reach maximum carrying capacity within four years of completion.
Considering that PIL 1 would be “good” only for such a short time, the EIA squarely nails the government’s claim of it being able to “dramatically reduce travelling time” from the north of the island to the airport as a lie. This is because spending about RM7bil for such a short-term “benefit” is not sensible economically, let alone a lasting solution to Penang’s traffic congestion problem. In fact, it will create more private vehicle traffic and further congestion on the island. So why is the government hell-bent on ramming this project through?
