Some 100 protestors gathered outside the Penang Legislative Assembly today in protest against the Pan-Island Link 1 (PIL1 ), during which they called on the state to review its project delivery partner SRS Consortium's version of the Penang Transport Master Plan.

Beginning their protest at 9.15am, the protestors held banners and placards criticising the road projects.

Andrew Han from Youth4BetterTransport group led the crowd to shout out their slogan "Review PTMP", "No way highway", and "PIL go away". The crowd dispersed after 30 minutes.

This is the second round of protest against the highway and the Penang Transport Master Plan.

N Ganeson, the president of Freedom, an NGO, asked: "Who is making the policy? It should be the people, not a big corporation.

"The government should listen to the people. This event is not initiated by any NGO, but by us, the ordinary people and civil society of Penang."

Penang Forum spokesperson Khoo Salma Nasution said the government should reveal the whole plan.

"The people don't know the details. The Detailed Environment Impact Assessment report doesn't provide details on how the interchange is going to affect the people around there, for instance, those on Jalan Utama and Paya Terubong," she said.

Salma pointed out that the Pakatan Harapan election manifesto promised to reduce carbon emission.

"So will the PIL1 and highway help to achieve the aim?" she asked.

Han said the pro-PTMP group claimed that those against the project are retirees.

"But do we look liked retirees? In fact, a lot of youth support our campaign and are calling on the people to go against the PIL1.

"People from different segments are protesting and want the Transport Master Plan to be reviewed. Building highways won't benefit us! Do you want to burden our youth by forcing them to buy more cars?" Han asked.

Tanjung Bungah Residents Association chairperson Meena Raman said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow used to stand with the NGOs against a BN proposed Penang Outer Ring Road project in early 2000.

"Why has he changed his stand after becoming the government? We are saddened with that change," Meena said.

Chow has promised that only 200 buildings will be affected by the highway and that 60 percent of these are housing units of squatters and minor structures such as sheds and stores.

Chow said six housing units at the Youth Park (Penang City Park) would be affected and this was only caused by the placing of piers at the extreme fringes of the park.

"We will listen to all the feedback from those affected. For example, some have asked us to install sound barriers in areas that are close to their residential or commercial areas and we will look into it,” he said.

SRS Consortium is the Penang government's project delivery partner for the RM27 billion Penang Transport Master Plan. PIL 1 is part of the plan, which will tunnel through Penang Hill, with highways built across two public parks.

Chow said the project remains a proposal and the state is collecting feedback on it from the public. They can submit their response to the Environmental Impact Assessment report by Sept 10.