Drop legal challenge, help solve traffic woes, Chow urges developer

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow showing where the bypass is supposed to be built in Bandar Tasek Mutiara. (Penang CM office pic)

NIBONG TEBAL: Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has appealed to a developer, which is challenging the Penang government’s bid to acquire land to build a 380m bypass road, to consider the needs of the residents.

The bypass, which is to connect those living near Taman Puteri Gunung and the adjacent Bandar Tasek Mutiara, could benefit some 15,000 residents whose neighbourhoods are hemmed in by larger townships.

Concerned residents in Taman Puteri Gunung recently collected nearly 2,000 signatures to petition for the bypass to be built, telling FMT they are forced to take shortcuts through forests due to heavy congestion on other roads.

Residents, especially parents on a school run, are forced to take a longer route which is often congested during peak hours.

There are seven schools within a 1.5km radius – SJK (T) Tasek Permai, SK Bandar Tasek Mutiara, SMJK (C) Jit Sin II, SMK Tasek, SMK Tasek Mutiara, SRJK (C) Keng Koon and XCL International School.

“I would like to plead to the developer to consider the interests of the public at large,” Chow told reporters while campaigning for the Sungai Bakap by-election.

He hoped this matter could be resolved out of court. “It will otherwise take a long time to ventilate through the courts.”

The state assembly was recently told the developer had refused the state government’s request for it to surrender 0.47ha of land to build a bypass road from Jalan Tasek Mutiara 10 to Jalan Hijauan Hills.

The matter was brought to the George Town High Court, which ruled in favour of the Penang government.

On April 24, the George Town High Court dismissed a judicial review application by the developer against the state government and land authorities, allowing the acquisition to proceed. No stay was granted.

State infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the developer was notified of a land acquisition investigation set for June 5 but it skipped this meeting, delaying the acquisition process further.

Zairil told FMT the Penang public works department (JKR) planned to build a four-lane, two-way bypass between Jalan Tasek Mutiara 10 and Jalan Hijauan Hills 1, costing RM4.5 million.