STOP THIRD LINK; IMPROVE FERRY SERVICES INSTEAD

We, the undersigned Penang-based groups, regret that the authorities seem to be ignoring calls to improve the poor ferry service between Penang island and the mainland and seem bent on pushing ahead with plans for a third link - an expensive bridge-cum-tunnel project.

Increasing the size, frequency, speed and number of ferries would immediately relieve congestion on the Penang Bridge. The state government should also rebuild the damaged ferry terminal on the mainland and re-introduce the double-decker vehicular ferries.

If the state government feels that a third link - from Pulau Tikus on the island to Bagan Ajam on the mainland - is necessary, then it should build additional ferry terminals at these locations.  This would be a far quicker - and more affordable - alternative to the proposed bridge-cum-tunnel.

It has been said that the third link project would create new  jobs. But improving the ferry service would itself immediately save hundreds of jobs at the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB). The PPSB is in the midst of offering its workers a ‘voluntary separation’ scheme to trim its workforce. But if the PPSB were to upgrade the ferry services, it can redeploy excess staff to the ferry operations and create many more new jobs.

The authorities say the ferries are expensive to operate, but can they guarantee that the toll rates for the proposed bridge-cum-tunnel - which is expected to cost RM2 billion - will be cheaper than the existing ferry fare? Not likely, if the exorbitant toll rates for the recently opened Second Johor-Singapore Link are anything to go by.

We still remember that the promise to widen the existing Penang Bridge was crucial in the decision to transfer it from the state to a private company.  Now, as a pretext for the third link, it is said that widening work would create congestion. Surely, the authorities would have known then that such work would create congestion.

Penang lacks an integrated public transport master plan.  The island can barely cope with heavier traffic. The state government’s emphasis now should be on improving public transport throughout the state - and not on making it easier for people to drive into the island and choke its already congested streets.

We appeal to the Penang state government to be more far-sighted and not just think of awarding mega projects to benefit certain contractors.  Obviously, we have still not learnt our lesson from our obsession with mega projects, which have landed us in an economic and environmental mess. Abandoning the third link project and improving the ferry services  would make much better sense.

In alphabetical order:
Aliran
Democratic Action Party (Penang)
Legal Advisory Centre (Penang)
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (Penang Division)
Malaysian Youth Council (Northern Region)
Penang Port Commission (PPSB)Employees Union
Pesticide Action Network, Asia-Pacific office, Penang
Women’s Crisis Centre (Penang)

23 May 1998