GEORGE TOWN – As the Economy Ministry moves the controversial Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway project into funding consideration, a geospatial expert has sounded the alarm over vague alignment plans for its tunnelled sections, warning of significant safety risks posed by underlying fault lines.
Soil scientist Datin Kam Suan Pheng, who criticised the project when it was first proposed in 2018, pointed out that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report lacked detailed alignment information for the tunnel works.
Although the Department of Environment (DoE) approved the PIL 1 project in 2019 with 56 conditions, the Penang Forum – a coalition of local NGOs – opposed the construction, warning that tunnelling through fault lines under Penang Hill could increase subsidence risks and lead to serious environmental problems and future traffic congestion.
Speaking to Scoop, Kam said the Penang Forum questioned whether project proponents had conducted adequate geological studies on Penang Hill’s bedrock and fault lines. She noted that Penang Island’s granitic geology naturally includes cracks and fault lines where underground water flows.
She explained that if developers bore a tunnel through a fault line with existing water flow, flooding risks could arise as water would channel into the bored tunnel.
“The question we have posed to project proponents is: what happens if they encounter fault lines while tunnelling through the hill? How will they handle it?
“Will they create a new tunnel to avoid the fault line? If so, what impact will this have on overall construction costs?
“These are our biggest concerns regarding the tunnelling portion of the project,” she added.
Kam highlighted back in 2018 that the EIA report produced for PIL 1 has warned that the highway project would affect the stability of iconic structures along its route like the Kek Lok Si Buddhist Temple, the Air Itam Dam and the Penang Hill railway complex, FMT reported
The project went dormant for years despite the EIA approval given due to lack of funds, but is being considered by the Economy Ministry for potential funding under the 12MP
Kam emphasised that due to the complexity of underground structures, thorough technical and scientific research is essential to ensure that tunnelling methods pose zero risk to the environment.
“Unless developers invest in resources to study the bedrock geology comprehensively, I do not see how they can guarantee tunnel safety,” she added.
Her remarks followed Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s January 7 announcement that the PIL 1 highway was one of eight Penang projects accepted for consideration under the Fifth Rolling Plan (RP5) of the 12th Malaysia Plan.
The six-lane highway is designed to include 7.6 kilometres of elevated roads and 10.1 kilometres of tunnels running beneath the Penang Hill range, passing through Paya Terubong, Sungai Ara, the Penang Hill funicular railway, and City Park (formerly Youth Park).
First announced in July 2018, the project has faced continuous backlash from civil society groups worried about its environmental impact. Concerns have centred on “drill and blast” tunnelling through the environmentally sensitive Penang Hill. Opponents, including local residents, have filed petitions and staged protests calling for the project’s cancellation.
Undermining LRT usage
Meenakshi Raman, president of the environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), urged the Economy Ministry to reconsider funding the highway project, arguing it would waste limited public resources. She warned it would encourage car usage on the island and fail to resolve Penang’s long-standing traffic congestion.
“The federal government is already funding the (Mutiara Line) LRT project. Funding PIL 1 will undermine LRT usage, making it an irrational investment,” she told Scoop. She also insisted that a new EIA is necessary.
In 2019, SAM and the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) criticised the previous EIA report for ignoring the heavy recreational use of Youth Park and Taman Jajar, which lie along the elevated highway route. The groups highlighted concerns that noise levels could exceed 75 dB – above the recommended 60 dB maximum – posing health risks to park-goers, including children. Air pollution was another key concern.
They further argued that the elevated highway would mar Penang’s scenic charm, creating an eyesore with adverse visual impacts on green spaces and forested hills.
Comprehensive project review
Kam suggested Putrajaya conduct a thorough review of PIL 1’s necessity, given the significant road infrastructure projects already underway, such as the Lim Chong Eu Expressway-Air Itam bypass and the forthcoming Mutiara Line LRT.
However, if the government decides to proceed, it must ensure compliance with the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which governs EIAs, and assess whether the previous EIA remains valid.
“An EIA approval is based on existing conditions at a given time. Over the years, these conditions have changed.
“Thus, the basis for the initial EIA approval may no longer be relevant under current circumstances,” she concluded. – January 13, 2025
