GEORGE TOWN: Public safety and the additional burden on taxpayers following water clogging on part of the RM545 million Bukit Kukus paired road is now in question.
Gerakan national vice-president Datuk Baljit Singh wants the state authorities to come clean on how much more taxpayers will need to fork out for remedial works on the hill road on the island, linking Farlim and Relau which was open just last month.
"Barely one month after all the fanfare and show of pride that Penang is home to Malaysia's tallest road, we now have a problem with a part of the Bukit Kukus paired road," he said in a statement.
"There was so much of pomp and circumstance last month with state government officials literally jumping up and down with excitement and pride all over social media, that the much-delayed project.
"Council Secretary Rajendran Anthony even went on record to say that a renowned engineering firm had given its assurance that the roads and the hillslopes are safe."
Baljit also highlighted that when the original Dec 30, 2021 opening date for the road was deferred, State Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari had said that upon inspection by the MBPP, some rectifications need to be done on the "developer's section."
"What was the haste in opening part of the road and compromising the safety of road users if sufficient checks had not been carried out?" he asked.
The multi-million project was said to be the most expensive and largest infrastructure project by the Penang Island City Council.
In 2018, nine people died in a landslide at the Bukit Kukus bypass road project site.
On Feb 5, a 10-second video of water retention following heavy rain went viral after traffic flow was affected.
The Penang Island council in a statement, had said the water retention incident at the tail-end of the Bukit Kukus paired road heading towards Jalan Tun Sardon was caused by heavy rain in the area.
"Will the rubbish and dried leaves which have been identified as the cause of water retention, be the convenient excuse for the authorities to hide behind and not be accountable?" Baljit asked.
"It is high time that individuals responsible for this national embarrassment step up and assume responsibility.
"Of greater concern is a review of professionals involved in a project which could easily risk the lives and safety of others," he added.
"It may be timely that the portion of the open road be closed for now in the name of prudence and public safety, until the city council and its consultants get their act together," Baljit said.
