[sustran] fwd: M'sian Works Minister says no need for public views on bridge

[SUSTRAN Network Secretariat]

The Star
Friday, March 17, 2000

Samy Vellu: No need for public views on bridge 

By A. Letchumanan 

KUALA LUMPUR: Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said there was no
need to obtain public opinion on the construction of the RM2.1bil tunnel
bridge link between Penang Island and the mainland. 

"This is not a privatised project. This is a government project and there
is no need for public opinion," he told reporters after opening a Christian
house of  prayer in Batu Caves yesterday. 

Samy Vellu said there would be no proper roads in the country if public
opinion was needed for construction of roads. 

"All will have to resort to travel by air if there are no proper roads. Are
the people prepared for it?" he asked. 

Samy Vellu said the Government was borrowing money from overseas to
undertake the project and not utilising public funds. 

The proposed bridge will be linking Bagan Ajam in Butterworth to Bagan
Jermal on Penang Island. 

Samy Vellu was commenting on Aliran executive committee member Anil Netto's
statement that the second link would further worsen traffic congestion on
the island. 

[explanation for non-Malaysians: Aliran is an active human rights and
civic-issues NGO which is often critical of the Government]. 

"The proposed link will only provide an additional inlet for cars to choke
the island's already congested streets," Netto said. 

Netto also said if the state government had the interest of Penangites at
heart, it should consult commuters, especially those using the ferry. 

Samy Vellu said Malaysians were getting very smart, adding that some even
filed for compensation when the Government constructed interchanges on
government-owned land. 

Samy Vellu said there is a need for roads as Malaysia was a developing
country unlike developed countries which razed their forests for development. 

"These developed countries want Malaysia to preserve its forests for the
benefit of the world. In fact, they should pay us for the fresh air and the
natural resources which they are getting from us. This is what we have to
discuss in the future," he said. 

Samy Vellu also disclosed that he would leave for Japan on Saturday to seek
funding for the second link and an elevated highway in Kuala Lumpur. 

The elevated highway, expected to be 12km long, will start near the Sultan
Abdul Aziz Shah Airport and end at the Jalan Klang Lama interchange near
Mid-Valley. 

Copyright © 1995-2000. Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. (Co No. 10894-D)
All rights reserved. 
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Distributed for the purpose of education and research.

A. Rahman Paul BARTER
Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia
and the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network)
P.O. Box 11501, Kuala Lumpur 50748, Malaysia.
E-mail: sustran at po.jaring.my
URL: http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran (under construction)

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