Public engagement on three major roads held; town hall session not the only avenue to ask questions, exco man tells NGOs

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THE Penang government is the most active government that conducts town hall sessions, state Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said.

“However, a town hall session is not the only avenue to ask questions. There are ‘millions of other ways’ to ask questions.

“When the three major roads project was mooted, there was already a public engagement session held.

“In order for the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) to commence, there has to be public engagement and there was.

“As far as I can remember, we had the town hall session.

“If there are any particular issues, they (the non-governmental organisations) can always ask. We are always open to answering questions,” Zairil replied the media at the official opening of the Central Island Park at Aspen Vision City in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan today.

He was responding to a news report on an NGO that wanted the Department of Environment (DoE) to hold another town hall session on the three paired roads project under the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

Zairil responding to the media during the official opening of Central Island Park at Aspen Vision City.

The three major roads project involves highways from Air Itam to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway; from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang; and from Gurney Drive to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

On a separate matter, Zairil told the public not to jump the gun on the construction site mishap at the slope in Jalan Tun Sardon on Oct 11.

“In any construction site, accidents can happen. What we want to ensure is that there is no negligence.

“If negligence is the cause of the mishap, then action has to be taken and will be taken.

“For this, we let the Penang Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) to do its job.

“The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will also be conducting an investigation and determine the next step from there,” he added.

It was reported that 14 concrete beams measuring 25m each fell onto a slope in Jalan Tun Sardon at 8.30pm on Oct 11.

No injuries were reported. The contractor of the 600m elevated road project connecting Jalan Bukit Kukus to Jalan Tun Sardon, however, has been served with a stop work order.

Story by Christopher Tan

Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad and MBPP