00:00The proposed Pan Island Link 1 highway in Penang has sparked fresh concerns among activists
00:07who warn that its construction could undermine the ridership potential of the state's planned
00:12light rail transit system. The highway, which received environmental approvals in 2019
00:18but never took off due to a lack of funds, is intended to connect Gurney Drive and Bayan Lepas
00:24via a 10-kilometre tunnel running through the Penang Hill Range.
00:28However, on Tuesday, it was revealed that the federal government may fund the PIL-1
00:33under the Shelf Malaysia Plan. Anil Netto, a member of the Penang Forum Steering Committee,
00:39said the proposed highway's alignment is almost identical to the LRT line,
00:44raising fears that commuters might opt for cars over public transport. He said Putrajaya's
00:50proposed funding of the highway would represent a shift away from earlier promises that the project
00:56would not rely on taxpayer funds. Ku Salman Nasution, another member of the Penang Forum,
01:02called for transparency and urged the state to make the environmental impact assessment
01:07publicly accessible again, adding that it should be displayed for public scrutiny.
01:12Meanwhile, Lim Mahui, an economist and member of the Penang Forum,
01:16criticised the state government's lack of responsiveness to public objections,
01:20adding that the group felt its 39-page objection was ignored. Pan Yujo, FMT News.
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