GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government’s decision to proceed with the 10.61km North Coast Paired Road (NCPR), linking Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang, has drawn criticism from local civil society groups, who argue that the project prioritises car-centric infrastructure at the expense of the environment.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman expressed shock and disappointment over the decision, pointing out that the NCPR would involve extensive hill cutting in areas classified as hill land, including slopes exceeding 25 degrees and elevations above 250 feet. She also highlighted that some of these areas serve as critical water catchment forests and are designated as environmentally sensitive zones, making them highly prone to disasters.
“We (Penang) have witnessed several examples of disaster risks before, which have led to loss of human life and damage, stemming from landslides, slope failures. We are clearly not learning from the many disasters we have had in the Tg Bungah-Batu Ferringhi-Teluk Bahang areas,” she lamented.
Meenakshi urged the state government to reconsider the project due to its detrimental impact on environmentally sensitive areas along the proposed route, arguing that pushing ahead with the NCPR to accommodate more cars contradicts the government’s purported commitment to climate action, environmental protection, and sustainability.
“It clearly shows how the government is short-sighted and very car-centric, instead of promoting other alternative ways to transport people, including by the use of waterways such as ferries which would be more environmentally sound,” she added.
Echoing her concerns, Zulfikar Abdul Aziz of the Penang Public Transport Users Association (Petua) suggested that the state’s existing ferry service could be expanded to cover the Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang stretch, with the potential establishment of a ferry terminal in Teluk Bahang.
“Expand the routes, for example from Teluk Bahang all the way to Weld Quay or even Penang Sentral (in Butterworth), using the same ferries. This ferry service has been running for at least two years and it is proven (to be) performing well, sustainable, and reliable,” he told Scoop when contacted.
The public transport advocate also criticised the state government’s track record of pursuing projects that harm the environment.
“I really wonder whether state government (officials) think about reclamations whenever they look at the sea from their offices in Komtar, and think about cutting the hills whenever they see the hills. This is what we are seeing after more than 15 years (which) is a very ‘unfortunate destruction’ of Penang,” he lamented.
Zulfikar urged the state government to hold town hall sessions with residents along the proposed route to gather public feedback before proceeding with the project.
On Thursday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the RM2.4 billion coastal highway project would finally move forward after years of delays, with construction set to begin next year. The project is part of the Penang undersea tunnel and roads initiative, which falls under the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), Free Malaysia Today reported.
The road aims to cut travel time between Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang from 45 minutes to just seven minutes. Construction is expected to take five years, with completion targeted for 2031.
To finance the project, the state government will cover the cost of building 4.88km of the road by granting land at Gurney Bay to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) instead of making cash payments. Meanwhile, CZC will fund the construction of the remaining 5.73km through a contra deal, offsetting development-related fees with its future projects in the state.
Chow said a new alignment has been introduced to minimise the project’s impact on densely populated areas. However, he acknowledged that hill clearing was unavoidable, with 70% of the road cutting through hilly terrain.
He also said that an amendment to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) would be required due to the realignment, a process expected to take one and a half years. In the meantime, the state government and contractors plan to engage with residents and obtain the necessary approvals.
Risks of human-wildlife conflict
Meanwhile zoologist and head of Langur Project Penang (LPP), Jo Leen Yap voiced her concerns that the habitat fragmentation that would take place from cutting through the hills for this road project could affect and influence the movement, ecology and behaviour of native wildlife such as the dusky langur and long-tailed macaques around the area – as habitat fragmentation forces them to change their established home ranges and travel routes.
She also told Scoop that environmental impacts of the project could exacerbate human-wildlife conflict along the stretch, especially around residential areas close to the affected forested area.
“As the forest shrinks, the remaining monkey populations face increased competition for food and shelter. Consequently, some groups are compelled to venture into human-populated areas, as there is limited alternative habitat available,” she said when contacted.
Jo said that LPP is keen to offer its professional insights on the road project, derived from its years of experience working with local communities and researching the urban monkeys in the state, as its observation had demonstrated a direct correlation between human activity and wildlife impact from the numerous reports received from residents detailing the presence of dusky langurs and long-tailed macaques in urban centers and residential zones.
“We (LPP) are committed to partnering with the state government to create and enact effective, sustainable solutions for reducing negative human-wildlife interaction. We hope we can carry forward the idea of being kind and compassionate towards all communities as making Penang a more liveable space for all – people and wildlife alike.
“Exploring conservation strategies such as installation of road canopy bridges to connect habitat fragments, and more educational campaigns to raise awareness about the rising human-wildlife interaction issues on the ground, will be a good start,” she added. – March 2, 2025