BN state assembly representatives from Penang have refuted the claim of the state government that a land reclamation project at Permatang Damar Laut on the southern tip of the island is yet to be finalised.

State opposition leader Jahara Hamid said a consortium, SRS, was given the task of developing a Transport Master Plan for the area in August this year and that the reclamation plan had been in place since 2013.

The Transport Master Plan is a RM27 billion project to address traffic and transport woes in Penang by building three major highways and an under-the-seabed tunnel linking the island with Butterworth on mainlan Penang.

“Everything has been finalised,” she said at the Penang legislative assembly today. The state assembly sits until Friday.

“Where are your facts? You must heed the people’s concerns, since the project will affect the livelihood of 300 fishermen. The impact will be massive,” Jahara, the Umno assemblyperson for Teluk Ayer Tawar, added.

She said this when referring to fears of reclamation along the coastline in Batu Maung, which was raised by the Consumers Association of Penang.

Guan Eng: Do not speculate

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has told environmental NGOs not to speculate on projects that have not been finalised.

Lim urged the activists to target Kelantan , where excessive forest logging, suspected to be the cause of the big floods in the state last year, have taken place, instead of focussing on Penang.

Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhammad Farid Saad ( photo ) said the reclamation project should have been finalised, since the Transport Master Plan is being developed.

“The state government cannot say that it does not know about this project or that the project is not finalised.

“It should be concerned about the worries of the residents in the area, as any reclamation project will have an impact on their future,” Farid said.

“So, please be direct about it with the people. Why hide?” he queried.

Farid also questioned the need to carry out reclamation works at the tourist strip of Gurney Drive.

“The previous BN government made an effort to beautify the place but reclamation will destroy the beautiful view along Gurney Drive,” he said.

Jahara interjected to say that the people were not informed about this matter, and that she only knew about it after the company involved in the reclamation works issued an announcement.

“Why is this not stated in this year’s budget? Only shareholders of the company would know about their projects. Ordinary people like us will not know,” she lamented.