Eye on reviving road plan, tourism and training

Four Penang assemblymen outline issues they plan to focus on

A PLAN to build a paired road connecting Bukit Kukus to the Sun Moon City flats in Paya Terubong may be revived.

Pakatan Harapan’s newly elected Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai from DAP said he was looking into the matter and would follow up with the local authorities.

“If implemented, the paired road will help alleviate traffic congestion in Paya Terubong,” he said.

Wong said the ongoing construction of the 5.7km Ayer Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass would create pollution, noise and traffic problems.

“I will work with the local authorities to iron out these issues,” he said after a walkabout at the Farlim Angsana Food Court to thank voters on Sunday.

Wong received 40,530 votes to win the state seat in the Aug 12 election, while his Perikatan Nasional opponent Andrew Ooi (Gerakan) secured 3,728 votes.

Ng (right) during his walkabout to thank voters in Ayer Itam.

Meanwhile, Pakatan’s Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang said he would work on promoting tourism in Ayer Itam, leveraging the Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill, two of the island’s popular tourist attractions.

“I will also work on linking some of the roads in Ayer Itam to the 5.7km Ayer Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass,” he said when during his walkabout on Sunday.

Ng garnered 12,456 votes to win the state seat in a straight fight with Gerakan candidate Cheang Chee Gooi, who collected 3,267 votes.

At the Jelutong wet market, Batu Lancang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong said he would train the new local councillors to help improve the local government to provide better services to the people.

Ong, from DAP, added that two Olympic-sized retention ponds were currently being constructed to counter flooding in Batu Lancang.

“The flood mitigation measures should be ready in 2024.

“The ponds will be covered up by a public field equipped with a basketball court,” he said.

He was with Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim to thank supporters in Jelutong.

(From right) Assemblymen Ong and Lim with supporters at the Jelutong wet market.

Ong, the incumbent, received 21,796 votes while his opponent Mohd Aswaad Jaafar from Gerakan, attracted 1,865 votes.

Lim from Pakatan was in a four-cornered fight and secured 16,026 votes to beat Perikatan’s Gerakan candidate Ng Fook On who received 7,738 votes.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia candidate Abdul Ghani Haroon and Independent candidate Andrew Rajah secured 623 and 221 votes, respectively.

Meanwhile, retiree Chee Saw Imm, 88, said she was happy to have voted and fulfilled her duty as a citizen.

“I used to work as a company clerk before retiring many years ago. If I remember correctly, I’ve been voting since the independence.

“I will continue voting for as long as I can,” said the octogenarian, who was wheeled out of the voting centre in SJKC Chung Hwa in Jalan Tembaga 2 after casting her vote last Saturday.

Chee, who lives in Island Park, hitched a ride with her neighbours since they were going to the same voting centre.

“I am able to walk on my own but not for long distances after my knee replacement surgery 13 years ago,” said Chee.

She was accompanied by several of her neighbours, including Thomas Kok, 54, Nuraini Tan, 56, and her daughter Nur Khatijah Mahdar, 27, and Chee Sin Meng, 82.