GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng faced a barrage of “missiles” at a public forum here over his planned RM6.3bil infrastructure projects, as the audience raised concerns of traffic congestion, tunnel accidents and fire outbreaks and excessive spending.
Lim's attempt to implicate the former Barisan Nasional in other projects were also heckled and, at one juncture, someone from the floor shouted to him, “Don't be a liar!”
Earlier, Penang Municipal Council engineering department deputydirector A. Rajendran gave a presentation of the four contentious projects while councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui gave a talk on the topic, Are we moving forward to the 21st century or moving backwards to the 20th century in our transportation policies?
Several hundred people attended the three-and-a-half hour event at the Town Hall here, focused on the planned 6.5km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel; 4.2km Gurney Drive-Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Bypass; 4.6km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu-Bandar Baru Air Itam Bypass, and a 12km road connecting Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang.
During the question-and-answer session, the audience jabbed him with hard-hitting queries over their fears and concerns.
Questions were also raised on the rush to announce these projects, just when the general election was close by. To this, Lim said the projects were announced in 2011.
Concerns were also raised on the environmental impact from the projects.
A builder who gave his name only as Tan, said he spent his own money to monitor the quality of noise, water and air on the island.
He claimed his studies showed the noise levels in the city and at Batu Ferringhi and Jelutong did not comply with the limits set by the Department of Environment.
“The water quality in Jelutong, Batu Ferringhi and Balik Pulau is Class 3, meaning it is not safe to use even for a bath,” he said, adding that the air quality in various places was also poor.
Blogger Anil Netto questioned Lim on the key players behind the companies that were awarded to carry out the mega projects and whether there were any political connections.
To this, Lim said: “I am not aware if they were politically connected in any way. They were evaluated and picked based on the best price, quality and assurance that the job would be done.”
Tiada ulasan:
Catat Ulasan