CAP protests three major roads project

GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) have protested against the proposed Three Major Roads Project In Penang which they said would not solve the traffic woes.
President of CAP and SAM, S. M. Mohamed Idris said the project would not solve the traffic congestion in the state but would in fact have an effect on the environment, health and the socio-economy.
He said while the roads could divert traffic from more congested areas, the traffic congestion was actually caused by an increased in the number of vehicles on the road.
"Studies have shown that while new roads or road widening could provide some temporary relief, it would not really solve the traffic congestion," he said in a statement, here today.
Mohamed Idris said many Penang residents were unaware that the Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed project involving the three roads had been put up on display for public comment since June 19.
Some 238 lots of land would be taken over for the road projects, involving 3.34ha of two permanent forest reserve land; 34.5 state forest land; 16.5ha of forest, private, state and federal land.
"The amount of land which would be taken over by Package One is 600,555m², Package 2 involves 216,606m² and Package 3 involves 9,792m²." — Bernama