Malaysian General Election 2004 Special

Nine reasons why PORR should be rejected

PORR would lead to the loss of Gurney Drive

The Government�s proposal to build the Penang Outer Ring Road will not solve the chaotic traffic problems and has to be opposed for the following reasons:

Lack Of Transparency

The lack of transparency, openness and public consultation prior to the decision to implement the prject causes serious concern, e.g.

• the alignment of PORR was only revealed under public pressure
• the 31 hectare of prime land to be given to the concessaionaire to offset start-up cost

Lack Of Experience, Management Skills And Financial Resources Of Peninsular Metro Works

This RM1.02 billion project has been awarded to a RM50,000 company with no track record.

Potential Project Failure

With PMW�s limited resources, even a minor setback has the potential to develop into a major disaster. Unstable hill slopes could result in landslides, endangering the lives of residents along its alighnment.

Conflict of Interest

This RM1.02 billion project has been awarded to a RM50,000 company with no track record.

Dato� Ahmad Ismail, who is chairman of Peninsular Metro Works, the concessionaire for PORR, has been appointed as a Councillor in the MPPP. This is a clear conflict of interest as he sits in the Property Committee and the Infrastructure and Traffic Management Committee.

Houses Affected

About 10,000 households and four major schools along the PORR alignment will suffer greatly from the noise and dust pollution.

Detrimental Impact To Penang Port

Peninsular Metro Works has been given the right to reclaim 202 hactares off Gurney Drive to subsidize the cost of constructing the PORR. The General Manager of the Penang Port Commission has issued a statement that this would lead to siltation of Penang Port, requiring expensive dredging operations. As there is still no EIA study on this reclamation, other adverse and irreparable damage to the marine environment could also result.

Loss Of Gurney Drive

Land reclamation off Gurney Drive would result in the loss to Penang of this well-known heritage site.

Danger Of Landslides And Rockfalls

The Extract of the EIA 1996 has indicated the fragile nature of the hills through which PORR will be built. This will pose a danger of landslides and rockfalls to the residents suring the construction and the entire life of PORR.

Effectiveness Of PORR

PORR is only a bypass and its effect will only be temporary. A rail-based transit system that will dramatically alter traffic demand will be required.

Our Proposal

• Formation of a State Transport Commission with powers to plan and implement transport solutions for the State.
• Completion of a comprehensive transport policy, which is made public, and with public input and feedback. Implementation of a rational and integrated bus system with a single company undertaking the project in Penang.
• Implementation of other traffic mitigation measures as proposed by the Penang Urban Transport Study of 1998 conducted by Halcrow Consultants Sdn Bhd.
• Expedite serious efforts to put in place a rail-based public transport system.
• A full and thorough assessment of the detailed Environment Impact Assessment for PORR to be conducted in a participatory and transparent manner with public consultation and feedback.

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