A non-governmental organisation (NGO) has invited an Australian town planner to give his insights into the undersea tunnel project proposed by the state government.

dap set pak lah free forum 121006 khoo kay peng Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) member Khoo Kay Peng ( left ) said it was getting an "outside" opinion "since the voice of the NGOs in Penang is not loud enough to be heard" by the state government and the people.

He said a forum would be held at the E&O Hotel next Tuesday to hear the views of the Australian, who was born in Johor.

Admission to the forum would be free as the group had been collecting donations to fund the event.

Khoo told a press conference that since the state government had kept the public in the dark over the project, the forum would help shed more light on the tunnel and its impact on the people.

The tunnel is one of four infrastructure projects costing a total of RM6.3 billion announced by the state government to help ease the traffic problem in the state.

The others are the 4.6km bypass linking Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, a 12km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road and a 4.2km stretch between Gurney Drive and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypassing the city centre.

Professor: Project will affect seafront

Khoo questioned the contingency plan for the tunnel should the cost escalate as the tunnel would only be ready in 20 years time.

"Do Penangites have to suffer for another 20 years while waiting for the tunnel to be ready?" he asked.

"The state contradicted itself when it promoted the Cleaner Greener Penang campaign. It should promote the usage of public transportation instead of building the tunnel without first conducting an Environmental Impact Study (EIS).

"The tender for the project has been awarded to a consortium but many people are still in the dark.

“Has the state locked the value of the project and if the price increases, what will happen?

"What if the project is aborted half way through the construction? What will be the quantum of compensation be? What assurance can they give to Penangites that the contractor is an expert in underwater tunnels?"

Another environmental expert and chartered architect, Prof Jimmy Lim, said the Penang government should shelve the project as it would affect the seafront, especially along Gurney Drive and Straits Quay.

"The whole dredging process will damage the seafront, especially during low tides," he said.

The Free Trade Zone (FTZ) would be badly hit with manufacturers having to ferry goods by land.

"We might even see the FTZ or, worse, Penang Port closing down," he said.

- The Malay Mail