The proposed Penang Island Links (PIL) under the Transport Master Plan (TMP) will not involve acquisition of land from the 197-year-old Penang Chinese Girls’ High School, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said today.

“The project delivery partner, SRS Consortium, has given the latest update that the PIL alignment along Jalan Gottlieb will not affect the school land,” he said at a press conference in Komtar today.

Chow, who is in charge of the local government, traffic and flood mitigation committee, also said the Indian Association and Phor Tay High School, which are located within the area, would not be affected by the PIL alignment.

However, he appeared disappointed that the Chinese Girls’ High School was not willing to make sacrifices for road projects that can benefit the people.

“Many others have made sacrifices so that we can enjoy the roads we have today,” Chow ( photo ) said.

He said Heng Ee Secondary School, Wawasan Open University, Chung Ling (Private) Secondary School, Union High School, Convent Green Lane Girls School and the Trustees of Kang Hoar Tong had made such sacrifices since the 1960s.

Chow was referring to the historical school, which has been in the spotlight lately over the possibility of its field being acquired by the state government as part of the RM27 billion TMP.

The school board insisted that it “would not budge an inch” to allow any plot of its land to be acquired for the TMP.

The board has also launched a campaign to ensure that the school’s field would not be acquired by the state government to materialise its TMP.

“The Chinese Girls’ High School has made its stand at the expense of the students. There can be no win-win situation if its stand is not to budge an inch. That is only a win situation for them,” Chow lamented.

“We welcome debate and campaign, but let's do it based on proper information and facts."

The TMP itself has come under fire from several quarters, including NGOs and fishermen, as it would involve land reclamation in the southern part of the island.

Planning permission lapsed

Chow said the school’s trustees had, on July 9, 2013, submitted an application for planning permission for a nine-storey building within its compound.

He noted that the council had on Dec 3, 2013 approved the planning permission with the condition that the school surrenders 30 to 33 feet of its field for road widening works.

The condition, according to Chow, was in line with the Penang Island City Council Draft Road Layout Plan.

“One of the board’s member is an architect and he is well aware of the condition,” he said.

However, the planning permission lapsed on Dec 3, 2014, as work on the school building has yet to commence.

Chow said the school would have to apply for a new planning permission if it wants to resume its plan to build the nine-storey building.

“The TMP was also launched only last year and has nothing to do with the school’s field land acquisition plan by the council,” he added.