More than 200 houses to be impacted by proposed PIL 1 highway

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 3): Penang’s proposed Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway project will likely impact more than 200 houses along the Sungai Kluang river reserve, according to reports.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the PIL 1 project cannot avoid the impact owing to the alignment but he also said that his government “will fulfil the proposal from the numerous assessments submitted to Federal agencies before approval is given for the project”.

“Any project will definitely have its impact, but what is important is how to mitigate the impact.

“The studies done will address the impact and propose mitigation measures to be taken to minimise it,” the New Straits Times (NST) reported Chow telling the media today after the opening of the first meeting of the first session of the 14th Penang Legislative Assembly.

"I think next week or the week after, we will go section by section to look at the land acquisition that is required and how many houses are involved. I think by then a clearer picture will emerge so the people will know whether the alignment will impact them and how they will be affected," Bernama reported him saying.

The project is also expected to affect one house along Jalan Gottlieb.

The 20km PIL 1 is an important part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

Chow also said that PIL 1 may not be needed today but it may be needed 30 years from now, Bernama reported.

"This project, as we say, is for 50 years to meet the challenge of Penang from 20 years to 50 years. If you say today may be more congestion, five years you don't do maybe still possible. 

"Ten years you don't do you got to do a study to see the impact, 20 years you don't do can Penang survive without a proper road network? There is the challenge," Chow said.