The Mega Folly of Lim Guan Eng’s RM8 billion infrastructure project for Penang
On January 27, 2013, Lim Guan Eng just unveiled his grand road infrastructure expansion plan costing total RM8 billion and recently he said that he has awarded the RM8 billion tender to construct road and undersea tunnel projects on the island to Malaysia-China joint venture Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd.
The project consists of a 6.5km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel, a 4.2km Gurney Drive-Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass, a 4.6km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu-Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass and a 12km road connecting Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang.
Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng said the construction company would be given 44.51ha of reclaimed land in Tanjung Pinang in phases. One of the four conditions set by the state government is that the concession period for the third link will only be for 30 years and the toll charges must be similar to the second Penang bridge.
It is difficult to understand why the state government is insisting on going ahead with these projects although a number of parties have voiced their reservation that this is not a long term solution to solve congestion problem in Penang.
The so-called open tenders appear to be so secretive that no one really knows about it or no one seem to notice or realize. Everything is done in an unholy haste.
The announced spectacle reveals one of the most important developments in Penang politics-the widening gulf between politicians’ policy decisions and the preferences of the people toward specific issues. This announcement can be added to the long list of policies that failed to mirror public opinion. The arrogance of the CM shows a continuing trend of declining responsiveness to the public’s policy preferences.
The conventional wisdom that politicians habitually respond to public opinion when making major policy decisions is proven wrong by this cocky arrogant tokong Lim Guan Eng. The 6.5km Sea Tunnel connecting Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam in particular is likely to be a white elephant project going by expert opinions expressed by sustainable transit advocates.
With the second bridge, designed to cater for traffic need until 2022, near completion, the undersea tunnel is rendered unnecessary in near future. Why do we need to spend billions of ringgit for a dead-end to Gurney Plaza? The decision to build the undersea tunnel was rammed through without public debate especial when there is a genuine concern on how it will affect the Penang port as a transhipment port. A transhipment port is one where the shipment of goods or containers are transloaded to a bigger vessel for the next destination. Thus, it required deeper channel up to 18.5m to cater for larger vessels.
The decision to build the undersea tunnel should be based on a feasible study that evaluate it’s impact on the growth of Penang port, it should not be pursued for the adrenaline rush of Lim Guan Eng for a political legacy. If Penang want to be a transhipment hub like Singapore it could ill afford to make a decision based on an adrenaline or bigoted rush.
Penangites expect the DAP-led Pakatan state government to restore Penang ’s free port status once Pakatan captured Putrajaya. The free port status will be of no meaning once Penang port unable to assume the role of regional transhipment hub like Singapore or Hong Kong. Critics have pointed out that Gurney Drive and the surrounding Pulau Tikus neighbourhood become a traffic quagmire during rush hour and weekends and it’s difficult to imagine how the proposed tunnel will solve the problem.
The decision to build more roads instead of improving the public transport system goes against the motto of Penang Transport Council: moving the people, not cars. This goes against its promises of seeking a new approach in handling public transport and mobility.
The state government promised to adopt a new vision paradigm in tackling transport, one that moves people away from our dependence on private transport mode to a more economically and ecologically sustainable public transport system. The biggest and most formidable challenge for the Penang Transport Council is to fight against the arrogant plans of Lim Guan Eng which it failed dismally.
Is the council made up of “state and city council members, civil servants, university professors, professionals, stakeholders, and members of the public with no spine or sense of dignity? Why have they have failed to deliver their promises of moving the people, not cars? They have allowed Lim Guan Eng to usurp their decision making authority and trivialize their expertise. They have allowed Lim Guan Eng to persist in pressing onward all the road construction solution to the bewilderment of sustainable transit advocates.
Another major decision was how the construction was to be financed. According to Lim Guan Eng, no monetary payment or funding should be given by the state for the construction of the projects as cost incurred would either be recovered through concession, land swap, toll or any other form.
Costs for the sea link tunnel would be recouped from toll charges expected to be same as the Penang Bridge and second bridge while construction of the roads would involve land swapping deals.
Tunneling is a major engineering challenge. A serious risk with underwater tunnels is major water inflow due to the water pressure from the sea above under weak ground conditions. The Channel Tunnel also had the challenge of time-being privately funded, early financial return was paramount. We have witnessed the scandalous concession given to highway operators in the past which literally sold out the people and the government. We do not expect the present leadership to travel this treacherous road again. We do not expect the ill-thought-out schemes to be driven by corruption and serve as new conduits for filching government lands. We want the state government to be transparent and come out clean on the concession and land swapping deals.
The announcement of the project with the concession and all the land swapping deals shrouded in secrecy, the state government had dropped all pretense of competency, accountability and transparency. Lim Guan Eng’s unwavering decision to sail against public opinion and then to openly defend his undemocratic actions was just one aspect of his one man’s executive decision process that was atypical.
Lim Guan Eng is a politician that will not hesitate to change public opinion not by directly persuading the public on the merits of his policy choices but by “priming” and distracting public opinion with the opinion that the urgency to defeat BN for change should take precedence over policy decision that affect the people.
Do we need a state government in which the state legislative assembly and public opinion was effectively ignored, so that the CM can decide everything to suit his own ambitions?
This is the betrayal of the highest order of the people who have voted the DAP. It is unacceptable and must be stopped at all costs. This is a lousy attempt to hold our desire for change for ransom. A leader who ignore the voice for change pose a more insidious threat to democracy than BN’s machinations. Time has proven that Lim Guan Eng sought to circumvent our desire for change and defied the public at almost every turn.
Only the heat of an imminent election and the elevated attention that average voters devote to it motivate politicians to respond to public opinion and absorb the costs of compromising their policy goals. Lim Guan Eng want to use the coming election as a referendum for his policy choice. If Guan Eng wins reelection, it will be seen by many, especially those who have made their careers in politics, as a vindication of his ambitious property and construction-centric policy agenda.
Can Penangnites allow this to happen and be trodden rough shod over by this Colussus Lim Guan Eng and our pleas ignored? Is he really working for the best interest of Penang?
Coming up next: EXCLUSIVE: Who benefits from the RM 8 billion project?
The cronies behind the scenes will be exposed.
why the need to built another traffic to feed the already congested pulau?
i agree that should be moving the people and not the cars. Penang should limit the car going into and around the island like what they do in Singapore.
and here I thought they model the singapore island for their development but I was wrong. I guess they never model their governmentship to a successful for rakyat but instead to the success of $$ in the China-account bank.
its shocking, sad n worrying. d only most effective way to protest n stop dis massive project is for all of us to come out into d streets n stage a massive demo. pls help get it started.get hundreds of thousands of us to show how disgusted we are at having such a mother of a white elephant being forced down our throats. make it a non political mother of all demos!!!
Gedgin is right. Penang people must do a huge demo. Bigger than Bersih or Lynas AND the most important thing is the participants MUST be majority Chinese. Then only our Dear Leader will take note. If the participants are mostly Malays than he will just brush it aside as UMNO conspiracy..
The question is.. can the Penang Chinese put aside their unconditional love for their Dear Leader for the sake of Penang’s future? Or are they as blind, deaf and mute like PAS cult followers? The Tokong or Tok Guru can do no wrong in their eyes?
The best demonstration is to NOT vote for LGE specifically. Let our Penang born and bred DAP be the governers for surely they must know and understand their kinfolks worries.
Lets have our Penang people make careful-thoughtout decisions, not for political gains but for the well being of our society. Only then will DAP be taken seriously by people…..
My appeal to voters in wherever LGE will be contesting, throw out your votes, cast your votes for anybody but LGE even it means giving t to BN fella. Likewise for wherever his sister or sister’s boyfriend is contesting. BN/UMNO was brave for throwing out PAk Lah. Wes should be brave to throw out undeserved leader and that should teach him a very very valuable lesson for treating Penang people like dirt.
I sould be able to join in street demos as per suggestion but more effective, just kick the arrogant CM out….for good…
I second all of the above. Arrogant Tokong abuses the mandate given at the last GE. He interpretes it to be that the Penangites give him a free hand in the management of the state affairs and finance. Last GE , promised to abolish toll, and now this, 30 years concession on toll. What do politicians ( especially those who have not been living here for more than 20 years ) care? After all, if they lose, they will just switch to stand in another constituency.
SAY A BIG FUCKING NO TO “The Mega Folly of Lim Guan Eng’s RM8 billion infrastructure project for Penang”
last time dia cakap No to PGCC, Now he is doing it..ass licker lim guan eng.
out u go.i heard its tan sri tan kok ping project.;)
Why don’t you all go to the Town Hall and listen to the presentation of the proposed project by Guan Eng and several respectable speakers. Why do you all like to do what UMNO supporters are doing, talk talk talk when you have no idea of the details of the project. You are all intelligent people of Pg, we are suppose to be more advanced than other Malaysians in the Peninsular, grow up man!
Sunday from 2.30 onwards at the Town Hall
DAP cakap semua mesti betul dan semua mesti dengar? Then why Lynas got experts but some people still choose not to believe and still listen to the instigation of PR ? Where are the scientific facts ? The cruz of the matter is : how is it the Rakyat was not aware of mega projects earlier ? Why are so called open tender so secretive? Why not explain earlier, in 2011 as claimed when open tender was at first phase ? why the hush hush ? what is there to hide ? Please lah , If the rakyat think that by being able to vote once in a few years and calle themselves master, and after that the elected think they can do what they want and can get away with it, then the rakyat are still not the real masters, they are just tools. If the elected think that after election, they are masters, then sorry, voters of Penang, you ask for it. Hmm, wonder why did they oppose to PGCC earlier ? Cakap tak serupa bikin ? Please be objective, when it is wrong , it is wrong . Nobody can play GOD.
Hanna Banana : The question is.. can the Penang Chinese put aside their unconditional love for their Dear Leader for the sake of Penang’s future? Or are they as blind, deaf and mute like PAS cult followers? The Tokong or Tok Guru can do no wrong in their eyes?
food for thought.
Quote ” why don’t you all go and listen ” ? shouldn’t it be ” why don’t you all go and ask ? why use the word ask ? why not use the word listen ? There you go.
Listen then ask questions….. You ignorant idiot!
How come all BN supporters act like SAMSENG!!
Ooi!….. Penang Girl….. You don’t sound like one, maybe u are from some ulu district of the Northern States.
The main guy that puts together this project is Datuk Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli.An ex convict who went to jail for the Bank Rakyat share scheme fiasco and spent 2 years inside.Clear case of Malaysia boleh.Manage to get Datukship from Pahang state and carries a business card with the malaysian government logo title ‘Special advisor to Minister Datuk Nazri Aziz . Siapa lagi Chief kita. Makes money by flipping taxi and limo permits that Chief approves for him.Does alot of ‘Kow TIm’ cases for the underworld because of his connection with CHIEF.
why town talk talk
just call press conference and dish out their own facts against the hard facts.
talk is talk
doing the right thing is what matter
Observer.
most of the people and commentators here are not BN supporters nor do they are UMNO supporters too.
come on sir, every time you cannot answer a question or got tongue lashing, by default, it will be BN’s fault. for once grow up and don’t be like a normal DAP supporters.
Obsever…please grow up Sir.
Listen and ask? Have ever Tokong listen and answer, I mean a genuine answering a question before? Manipulating the situation and spin till he himself stuck with his lies and spin.
He is in d situation of believing to his own lies.
Dear Observer, …… “from some ulu district of the Northern States”…. you are the real racist…
PR manifesto promised to abolished all hiway n bridges toll if they win putrajaya. Now kim guan beng gave 30 year concession tunnel link to his crony. If PR win putrajaya soon and all tolls were abolished, who the hell gonna used the tolled tunnel link to G drive? Akai tak dak…… Goes to show that PR dream to win putrajaya only a wet dream
Is Penang in better hands now?
Likewise for Selangor and Kedah.
Also can Kelantan be in better hands?
Change – for the better, 5 more years of these can be irreversible
saynotoahlimpek, you are the Ah Pek moolayoopek! Najib is pak kooang ajaq! That’s how the scumno malays look down on their fellw Malays who are old and infirmed … this is the truth and nothing but the whole trust …
Shaun Zakaria,
You are the real RACIST … and the dap insider guys are damn stupid to be working for scumno!
Jahanam scumno … duduk di neraka selama-lamanya!!!
BLOODY RACIST DAP INSIDER … BLOODY CHINAMEN!
CALLING YB GOBIND SINGH DEO A DRUNK AND A WIFE-BEATER … YOU BLOODY ANTI-INDIAN RACIST!
YOU REALLY THINK THAT PEOPLE CANNOT SEE THROUGH YOUR RACISM!
AS SURELY AS 2+2=4, DAP INSIDER IS RACIST!
To observer at 11.39 , I have been living in Penang Island for more than 50 years. And you calling people whom who suspect not living on the island ” ,all other places ” some ulu district of the northern states ” , wow, that is very skewd. Why didn’t LGE listen to the people of Penang first before even calling for tender, what more it is now in the final stage ? Come on, idol worship of politicians is so fanatic. Why did he not listen and then ask ? Doesn’t mean DAP supporters have to support all the mega project, wrong is wrong ! We support based on principles, we do not support blindly. Get it ?
To : Malaysian Chinese are not racists , If you cannot debate intelligently, then at least do not disgrace yourself by using such language and by the way, you do not represent the Chinese, there is no majority of us are race biased in one way or another. Action speaks louder than words.
Correction ; there is no doubt majority of us are race biased.
Tell that to dap insider … bloody racist like scumno! Kurang ajar chinamen!
Please have something more intelligent to say other than swearing and cursing people, any strong supporting facts ? If not, disgrace yourself no further.
Dato zarul is linked to yang berhormat padang Rengas.
Apparently the marketing director for zenith construction is a uniform seller. 40 jalan sungkai. Go look for foo Jee hai
“PR manifesto promised to abolished all highway and bridges toll if they win putrajaya. Now LGE gave 30 year concession tunnel link . If PR wins putrajaya soon and all tolls were abolished, who the hell gonna used the tolled tunnel link to Gurney drive? “
Dear Member of Parliaments, Member of State Assembly and respected CEC members of DAP.
Since there is no avenue for public to express any opinions in and against DAP on internal an leaders external issues, I am sorry for addressing all of you in this email medium and in a style that is not PR’s. I don’t want to look like an outspoken, all-knowing child who has to address you from a distance in this manner. Unfortunately, I have to send this message to you all in the only way available to me right now.
I cannot thank DAP enough for the principled stands you have taken in the past and continue to take on matters affecting the Rakyat. I don’t have the space to enumerate all the things you have done that I will have wish to heap praises and adoration on DAP. I will, therefore, just limit myself to your admonishing on the culture of insults that has become so pervasive in DAP, particularly, the unrestricted insult and attack of the office of the Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M.Kulasegaran against Ngeh Koo Ham & Nga Kor Ming.
Dear DAP leaders, this nasty culture has been nurtured and/or used for selfish ends by political parties from both sides of the aisle. This culture has particularly exploded in DAP not in recent times but after the victory in 2008 in Perak and it is because of power greediness.
The internet micro blogging especially twitter, has become a place for slandering others anonymously and the freedom of the press which we were so excited about 20 years ago as perhaps the ultimate expression in democracy has become a culture of insults. After the removal of all impediments to press freedom that led to the so called culture of silence, the freedom of expression that ensued has given way to all sorts of uncultured and downright savage way of engaging in discussions and debates.
The culture is based on propagated lies about political leadership by people who have no idea how the political system works and the downright hypocrisy and inability of politicians to educate their followers, just to score cheap political points. Some of these politicians also behave as if “tear them down” is their only political philosophy and they recruit and pay a special group of propagandists and serial callers who are trained to respond to any pronouncement from political opponents with misinformation, fabrication and downright insult.
But DAP Leaders, I am writing to you today because with all due respect, M.Kulasegaran, and all his chef de mission’s are deeply involved in this culture of insult simply to create hatred against Ngeh Koo Ham & Nga Kor Ming in DAP Perak. I must stress that this culture of insult is not DAP invention, neither is it exclusive to us. But as someone like M.Kulasegaran, I am ashamed to admit that my respected DAP Ledare are also deeply involved in the phenomenon. We have helped nurture and use it.
Currently we are a proud and strong spirited party in PR. We did not build any empires in favor nor practice nepotism, but M.Kulasegaran action against his party colleagues are totally intolerable. His moves to damage Ngeh Koo Ham and Nga Kor Ming’s good name also smeared the Long Standing Idol of DAP Politician Mr.Lim Kit Siang.
The politicians among us whose sole aim is to gain political power will not side with us, will frustrate us, and use us to score political points. Also, leadership of the political parties who think they are good on their own and allow themselves to be trapped in self-deception and unable to get out of the groove of their self-justifying behavior should be made to know they being unwise. This people usually work out their fears and frustrations by using the coward way to find scapegoats. The problem is who is going to allow him to be used to achieve his goal at the expense of decency?
Dear Leaders of DAP, I am hoping that you will have the time to start a discussion among our people to find ways to do away with this canker (Kulasegaran) that is gradually eating into our political goals in DAP and PR.
Thank you and may the Lord protect you.
To those who are running the website. Can you guys stop twisting the facts and making blatant lies anymore? Haven’t you guys already done enough damage to the nation for the past 50 years? Stop all these nonsense about DAP. And pray for karma not to land on your offspring or your loved ones. The ones who suffer are those mentioned in near future. I’m am so saddened that you admins live in disgrace and I will pray for your well being, be it in mind or own morality. May God save you admins.
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As usual, cannot/ refuse to debate intelligently, will always try to deviate . For 50 years, we enjoy the peace of our country because of the those who sacrifice their countries. However , there are others who continuously condemn the country and try to create hatred and chaos( and yet wonder why they still want to live here ? ) . They talk as if for 50 years, they do not have free schooling, no houses to live in, no roads, no infrastructure, no cinemas to go to, nothing,……. oh, i am sure life must have been hard for them for 50 years.
sacrifice for the countries
Penang girl you can go fuck yourself.STUPID CUNT FACE. Peace only in heaven ok.so go die u whore…lol
whore from mca…everyone now can fuck for free.bangala too…
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/–95G0bjmeh0/UGqm9jk6-cI/AAAAAAAANqE/3l8kUK9wMIw/s1600/leng%2Byein5.jpg
Shen Yee Aun aka MCA balls licker aka good DOG
http://1sya.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sya-sya-sya-sya-sya.jpg
what a fucking dickhead.
MCA plastic fuck doll
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_MheEV0PpNE/UGqm8LP7hVI/AAAAAAAANps/fWua5gYVuho/s1600/leng%2Byein3.jpg
why guan eng lantik company umno?