Malaysian Highway Authority and concessionaire company Peninsular Metroworks Sdn Bhd jointly placed a full-page advertorial in a few major newspapers today to defend the controversial alignment of the Penang Outer Ring Road project.

Headlined "Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) bypass [ sic ] traffic jams on the island..." the advertorial published in The Sun and the Penang edition of The Star , claimed that Penangites could travel from the Penang Bridge to Air Itam in four minutes and Tanjung Bungah in 10.5 minutes.

It said the 17km road project is an option for motorists to bypass jam-prone main roads and get around faster with less stress.

"Reduced conjestion will also mean better safety, especially near school areas where parents pick up their children. There will be [fewer incidents] of accidents and road rage," it claimed.

The RM1.02 billion project was initiated by the federal government. It is expected to affect more than 176 structures, including private homes, and religious and burial grounds.

Set for completion in 2007, the project has come under fire for its ambiguity in several areas such as compensation rates for affected property owners, toll rates and feasibility of the highway in solving Penang's long-standing traffic woes.

Study ignored

Critics claim that the government has ignored the state-commissioned Halcrow Penang Urban Transport Study in 1997 where a comprehensive review of the island's transportation policy has raised many questions about PORR's transparency, viability and compatibility with sustainable transport.

According to the report, the PORR would ease traffic flow and save travel time significantly. But after eight years, traffic volume would increase so fast that it would overwhelm the capacities of existing roads resulting in reduced vehicle speed and longer travel time.

Penangites have been told that the state government had taken measures to keep the PORR toll low and reasonable, reducing the originally proposed toll by 41 percent from RM1.70 per toll station to RM1 by sacrificing 31ha of prime state land worth RM200 million and 500 acres of reclaimed land worth RM3 billion on the sea front off Gurney Drive to PMW.

But residents are still upset about the proposed plan and thousands have been flocking to the Caring Society Complex where 17 exhibits of the road project are being displayed for public viewing and feedback.

Originally, the two-week viewing period for the project plan was to end today. However, following a request from the state government, MHA is extending the exhibition for another month until June 27, according to a Bernama report today. Deputy Chief Minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya said it will now be held at the MHA office at 7th mile Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah.

No comment

In the advertorial today, MHA refuted allegations that Penangites were not consulted about the project, saying that since 1997, it has been addressing public enquiries on whether their properties would be affected by the massive highway project.

The advertorial also dismissed popular claims that PORR will add more traffic to the already congested roads of Penang and assuring those affected that they will be properly compensated or relocated.

"Contrary to the more roads more traffic theory increased conjestion is more related to increased vehicle registration resulting from economic factors not the construction of a bypass highway," said the advertorial.

"The construction and existence of PORR will also generate employment and bring about immense socio-economic benefits into the region," added the advertorial.

Responding to criticism on the short-term inconvenience to motorists, the advertorial assured Penangites that the PORR's construction will not cause major inconvenience and the environment would be protected as the highway is now elevated and sits on columns at the hilly areas of Island Glades, Island Park, Batu Lanchang and Batu Gantung.

"When the road is fully operational, air and noise pollution will be minimised given the implementation of the latest mitigation technologies," said the advertorial.

When contacted, a staff from PMW said only MHA can answer all queries pertaining to the PORR.

However, MHA officials could not be reached for comment.