Chow: Inaccurate representation of PIL 1 by NGOs

PETALING JAYA (July 25): Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the negative portrayal of the proposed Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway was inaccurate.   

"There is clear misinformation on the PIL 1, such as the use of inaccurate visuals and description, which provoke unnecessary negative sentiments among the general public," Chow said in a statement today, reported malaysiakini.

"The Penang government welcomes open discourse on the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), and while doing so, we wish to rectify inaccurate representation of PIL 1 to the public," he added.

Zeroing in on an NGOs concern over tunnelling on Penang's hills and the allegedly destructive construction method proposed, Chow said that the "drill and blast" tunnelling method is acknowledged as the most established method for tunnel excavation in the world.

Chow pointed out that the Genting Sempah Tunnel, which had been officially opened in 1979; and the 800m Menora Tunnel on the North-South Expressway Northern Route near Jelapang, Ipoh that opened in 1986, had been built with the same method.  

"It is clear the hills where the tunnels pass through are still standing tall today.

"It needs to be emphasised that the tunnel construction is carried out under controlled conditions with added safety measures to minimise potential concerns," Chow said, as reported by malaysiakini.

The NGO, Penang Forum has also urged the Penang government to review the need for the PTMP, which includes construction of the RM6.3 billion 900m undersea tunnel linking Gurney Drive on the island to Butterworth on the mainland.

The tunnel is located on the Karak Highway connecting Hulu Gombak in Selangor to Genting Sempah, Pahang.

Blasting mats would be installed to prevent dispersal of flying rocks and to suppress noise and dust, said Chow, addressing concerns over vibration, noise and dust.

"A full range of monitoring, ground surveillance and precautionary measures to protect workers, the public, hillslopes and property safety will be employed.

"As tunnelling is a highly specialised form of construction, the Work Package Contractor will need to demonstrate a high level of experience and expertise with a strong safety track record, before being considered for the job," said Chow.

As reported by the news portal, Chow promised that as stated in the PIL 1 EIA report, the following international and Malaysian guidelines will be fully complied with to ensure the safety of workers and the public at large during the tunnelling process.

The Underground Construction (Tunnelling), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, US Department of Labor, OSHA 3115-06R (2003); and Guidelines on Safety and Health in Tunnel Construction Industrial Health Division, Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia (July 1998).

"The question of how much explosives will be needed for tunnel construction is redundant, as it is only but a means to complete the tunnelling works.

"Instead, one should be asking what is the level of environmental and safety standards which we should adhere to," he said, reported malaysiakini.

"Focusing the public’s attention to unnecessary details will not only be counter-productive, but undermines the importance of PIL 1 to improve Penang Island’s road network hierarchy and disperse worsening traffic congestion in key residential and commercial areas on the island.”