Jalan Empangan Air Itam reopens ahead of schedule

GEORGE TOWN: Jalan Empangan Air Itam, which leads to the Air Itam Dam, has been reopened for public use today, a day ahead of schedule.
PBA Holding Bhd, the supplier of treated water in Penang, had been given a week to complete the road, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.
"The state government has also ensured that the road reinstatement works have been completed at the affected area," he said at a reopening ceremony.
"The total cost of the road reinstatement works amounted to RM62,650 and the cost is covered by PBA."
Lim also flagged off a group of cyclists in front of the bungalow belonging to PBA.
Also present were Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari, Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai and a trustee of Kek Lok Si Temple, Datuk Steven Ooi.
At the same time, Lim, who is also Air Putih assemblyman, said the state government appreciated the Kek Lok Si Temple trustees for constructing a 100m retaining wall, as remedial work for a 60m high slope that collapsed in a thunderstorm on Oct 29 last year.
"The Temple has spent a large unspecified sum on the retaining wall. However, certain irresponsible parties are unreasonable in criticising Kek Lok Si for taking eight months to finish the retaining wall when they had to raise funds and complete the work as well," he said.