Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon refuted allegations that the controversial alignment of the proposed Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project was a 'done deal' without public consultation.

"It is not correct. The plan went through public scrutiny and was gazetted in 1990," Koh told reporters after the state assembly sitting in Penang this afternoon.

Koh said the proposed plans had been exhibited in 1999 based on a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in 1981.

On toll charges incurred by road users and compensation for land acquisition involving several households, temples, holy shrines and shops, Koh said the issue will be addressed by the Malaysian Highway Authority and the federal government after reviewing the responses from the people.

The project initiator of PORR is the federal government through the Works Department. The project is aimed at easing traffic congestion within the city by building a highway with eight interchanges along the coastal roads and outer fringes of Georgetown.

At 17km long, the RM1.02bil PORR has its origin in the Jica study entitled "Urban transport study in greater metropolitan areas of Georgetown, Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam".

Road network