Citizen Awareness Chant Group (Chant) legal adviser Yan Lee said they received a reply from Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin’s office yesterday on their request to have a townhall on the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) highway.
Lee said Yeo’s office also revealed that the public consultation period for the project would be extended following requests from the Consumers’ Association of Penang and other groups.
The public consultation period, to hear concerns by affected stakeholders, is set by the Department of Environment (DoE) before a decision is made on an environmentally-sensitive project.
Several groups had previously said that the consultation period was too short, leaving many with insufficient time to voice their objections.
“We have emailed the minister to ask for a townhall, since there has been a lot of confusion about what the PIL1 entails.
“We are very happy with the reply supporting our proposal and are looking forward to this,” Lee said today.
Lee hoped that another highway builder, Consortium Zenith, would also join in the townhall to hear what Penangites have to say about highways in their backyards.
Zenith is building an undersea tunnel and three highways.
“What we see is just a proposal of elevated highways. But we do not see the feeder roads and the entry and exit points of these highways which would affect the lives of Penangites.
“So, it is best if Zenith can be present. We are not challenging them, but we just want them to hear what we have to say.”
The highway in question is a 19.5km, six-lane Pan Island Link (PIL) 1 toll-free highway which will connect Gurney Drive to the second Penang Bridge in Bayan Lepas.
The highway will have a 10km tunnel section which is proposed to be “drilled and blasted” through the hill slopes of Penang Hill, Paya Terubong and Sungai Ara.
The state government said it was necessary to tunnel the section as opposed to creating elevated structures to avoid cutting down trees and evacuating residents along the route.
According to a public report of the project, over 700kg of explosives are needed to blast through the hills
Is the Penang Transport Master Plan headed for financial trouble?
Penang transport plan: Chant urges Council of Elders to intervene