GEORGE TOWN – Following a spate of complaints against the project contractor over the flash flooding at the newly minted Bukit Kukus highway, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has promised to do whatever is necessary to rectify the problem.
Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang, who is also MBPP president, told a press conference today that the contractor has been tasked to come up with measures to alleviate flooding.
“The project has met its original specifications, but the contractor did not take into account widespread littering.
“This had caused the drainage to be clogged, and with heavy rain, there were instances of flash floods here,” said Yew after inspecting the stretch affected by the recent flooding.
Accompanied by the council’s engineers and councillors, Yew said that MBPP is now moving forward in terms of improving the highway and it will adopt an open-minded approach.
“We are willing to meet our critics and the ratepayers.
“Those unhappy with what we have done are welcome to come to our offices to discuss. We are willing to discuss for the sake of improving this facility.”
Yew said that MBPP constructed this highway for the benefit of the ratepayers, so it is only logical that it will try to fulfil the expectations of the people here.
Located off Bukit Jambul, the scenic highway provides an additional link to the traffic heading to Balik Pulau, Relau and Paya Terubong.
Billed as the nation’s tallest elevated highway, the project has been riddled with controversies after rampant littering was seen before it suffered from flash floods last week, much to the chagrin of its critics and ratepayers alike.
The popularity of the road saw many pedestrians jogging through it, but at the same time, they have also reportedly contributed to the rise in litter in the area.
Meanwhile, councillor Tan Seang Keat said that the opposition is welcome to criticise what has been done, as PKR had done the same when the party was also in that position.
However, he urged them to be critical based on facts, and not on unfounded sentiments or half-truths on social media.
“It is important to argue based on facts, as we all want the same objective, which is to improve our services to the ratepayers.
“We should not be the judge, jury, and executor on social media. We need to double check our facts.” – The Vibes, February 11, 2022
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