BARELY 24 HOURS after the highly anticipated Gurney Bay recreational park on reclaimed land was opened to the public formally, the project has been besieged with accusations of poor workmanship, with even claims of water pressure on the artificial green lung being too low.
Heads turned as former chief minister Lim Guan Eng took to social media early today to claim that the playground's facilities are not maintained well.
The DAP chairman also questioned the expenditure of RM247 million, stressing that the park should have been of an impressive international standard for such an amount spent.
His remarks drew an immediate response from his successor and current chief minister Chow Kon Yeow who issued a statement to clarify that Lim had given inaccurate information.
"Phase 1 of the Gurney Bay project did not cost RM247 million as alleged by Lim," said Chow.
He explained that the RM247 million is the full cost of the Gurney Bay project, including both first and second phases.
“As of December 31, the state government has only paid RM58 million for the completed work.
“The RM247 million will only be spent once all of the project’s components are completed by 2026," he said.
Chow, who is a vice-chairman in DAP, also addressed Lim’s accusations of shoddy workmanship at the playground, saying that the contractor is responsible for any damage during a two-year liability period.
Besides sharing photographs of the playground equipment which he said were of inferior quality, Lim claimed that a concrete structure on the land showed cracks when the first phase was opened.
“Fortunately, the relevant parties acted quickly after complaints were lodged,” he said. “However, it does not stop questions from being asked on the quality of the work done.”
The Gurney Bay is a completely new seafront for Penang islanders.
It is developed on reclaimed land in front of the popular old Gurney Drive promenade which had become affected with coastal siltation and mud in it later years.
Second phase to open in 2025
Lim also said that the RM247 million costing of the project have “caused doubt and questions about its original plan, design, monitoring of results and work quality.”
“The RM247 million spent should have produced an international-level recreational park,” he said.
The first phase, covering 11.2ha, opened on Sunday, boasting a viewing deck, playground, skate park, kiosks, toilet, and open-air car parks, with a promenade around the park right next to the sea.
It is the first reclamation project to be rolled out under the Pakatan Harapan administration since it took control of the Penang state government in 2008.
Chow was reported as saying that work under Phase 2 is currently at 40% and it is expected to be completed by next year.
This next phase, covering 29.98ha, will include a hawker centre, a multi-level carpark, a vantage point, toilets, a water taxi jetty, beach, boardwalk, and water garden.
The Gurney Bay is a contentious project because it was opposed by civil society groups over concerns that the massive reclamation would adversely impact on marine life and ecology, as well as on tidal patterns and siltation.
However, the developer and the state received the green light from the federal Department of Environment and went ahead with it. – The Vibes, February 5, 2024
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