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PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
NCPR route: Activists slam Penang’s RM2.4bil ‘car-centric’ solution for endangering environment, wildlife
- Admin UKK
- Berita
GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government’s decision to proceed with the 10.61km North Coast Paired Road (NCPR), linking Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang, has drawn criticism from local civil society groups, who argue that the project prioritises car-centric infrastructure at the expense of the environment.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman expressed shock and disappointment over the decision, pointing out that the NCPR would involve extensive hill cutting in areas classified as hill land, including slopes exceeding 25 degrees and elevations above 250 feet. She also highlighted that some of these areas serve as critical water catchment forests and are designated as environmentally sensitive zones, making them highly prone to disasters.
“We (Penang) have witnessed several examples of disaster risks before, which have led to loss of human life and damage, stemming from landslides, slope failures. We are clearly not learning from the many disasters we have had in the Tg Bungah-Batu Ferringhi-Teluk Bahang areas,” she lamented.
Meenakshi urged the state government to reconsider the project due to its detrimental impact on environmentally sensitive areas along the proposed route, arguing that pushing ahead with the NCPR to accommodate more cars contradicts the government’s purported commitment to climate action, environmental protection, and sustainability.
“It clearly shows how the government is short-sighted and very car-centric, instead of promoting other alternative ways to transport people, including by the use of waterways such as ferries which would be more environmentally sound,” she added.
Echoing her concerns, Zulfikar Abdul Aziz of the Penang Public Transport Users Association (Petua) suggested that the state’s existing ferry service could be expanded to cover the Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang stretch, with the potential establishment of a ferry terminal in Teluk Bahang.
“Expand the routes, for example from Teluk Bahang all the way to Weld Quay or even Penang Sentral (in Butterworth), using the same ferries. This ferry service has been running for at least two years and it is proven (to be) performing well, sustainable, and reliable,” he told Scoop when contacted.
The public transport advocate also criticised the state government’s track record of pursuing projects that harm the environment.
“I really wonder whether state government (officials) think about reclamations whenever they look at the sea from their offices in Komtar, and think about cutting the hills whenever they see the hills. This is what we are seeing after more than 15 years (which) is a very ‘unfortunate destruction’ of Penang,” he lamented.
Zulfikar urged the state government to hold town hall sessions with residents along the proposed route to gather public feedback before proceeding with the project.
On Thursday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the RM2.4 billion coastal highway project would finally move forward after years of delays, with construction set to begin next year. The project is part of the Penang undersea tunnel and roads initiative, which falls under the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), Free Malaysia Today reported.
The road aims to cut travel time between Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang from 45 minutes to just seven minutes. Construction is expected to take five years, with completion targeted for 2031.
To finance the project, the state government will cover the cost of building 4.88km of the road by granting land at Gurney Bay to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) instead of making cash payments. Meanwhile, CZC will fund the construction of the remaining 5.73km through a contra deal, offsetting development-related fees with its future projects in the state.
Chow said a new alignment has been introduced to minimise the project’s impact on densely populated areas. However, he acknowledged that hill clearing was unavoidable, with 70% of the road cutting through hilly terrain.
He also said that an amendment to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) would be required due to the realignment, a process expected to take one and a half years. In the meantime, the state government and contractors plan to engage with residents and obtain the necessary approvals.
Risks of human-wildlife conflict
Meanwhile zoologist and head of Langur Project Penang (LPP), Jo Leen Yap voiced her concerns that the habitat fragmentation that would take place from cutting through the hills for this road project could affect and influence the movement, ecology and behaviour of native wildlife such as the dusky langur and long-tailed macaques around the area – as habitat fragmentation forces them to change their established home ranges and travel routes.
She also told Scoop that environmental impacts of the project could exacerbate human-wildlife conflict along the stretch, especially around residential areas close to the affected forested area.
“As the forest shrinks, the remaining monkey populations face increased competition for food and shelter. Consequently, some groups are compelled to venture into human-populated areas, as there is limited alternative habitat available,” she said when contacted.
Jo said that LPP is keen to offer its professional insights on the road project, derived from its years of experience working with local communities and researching the urban monkeys in the state, as its observation had demonstrated a direct correlation between human activity and wildlife impact from the numerous reports received from residents detailing the presence of dusky langurs and long-tailed macaques in urban centers and residential zones.
“We (LPP) are committed to partnering with the state government to create and enact effective, sustainable solutions for reducing negative human-wildlife interaction. We hope we can carry forward the idea of being kind and compassionate towards all communities as making Penang a more liveable space for all – people and wildlife alike.
“Exploring conservation strategies such as installation of road canopy bridges to connect habitat fragments, and more educational campaigns to raise awareness about the rising human-wildlife interaction issues on the ground, will be a good start,” she added. – March 2, 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Beberapa kawasan di Sarawak diramal mengalami ribut petir dan hujan lebat sehingga jam 1 pagi esok.
Kawasan itu termasuk Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei (Pakan dan Julau), Mukah (Dalat dan Mukah), Kapit, Bintulu (Tatau) dan Miri (Beluru dan Telang Usan).
Keadaan cuaca itu dimaklumkan Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (METMalaysia) dalam hantaran di Facebook sebentar tadi.
METMalaysia berkata, amaran dikeluarkan apabila terdapat tanda-tanda menunjukkan ribut petir dengan intensiti hujan melebihi 20 milimeter per jam yang hampir atau dijangka berlaku melebihi sejam.
"Amaran ribut petir adalah amaran jangka pendek yang sah dalam tempoh tidak melebihi enam jam untuk satu-satu keluaran," katanya.
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman has called on the state government to expedite the construction of a permanent disaster relief centre, citing the annual occurrence of fires and floods in Sabah.
He highlighted the repeated displacement of victims as underscoring the need for a designated relocation site with proper facilities.
"This is not the first time, and it will not be the last. Every year, families lose their homes to fires or floods and are left with no proper place to go. It is time for the government to stop treating this as a temporary issue and start planning for a long-term solution," he said.
Speaking at the Likas Hall temporary relief centre, which currently houses residents displaced by the massive fire at Kampung Cempaka in Likas on Saturday morning (March 1), he noted that the government owns large tracts of land that could be allocated for a centralised relief centre.
"We need a designated area where disaster victims can be immediately relocated. It should have proper shelters, a communal kitchen, and medical facilities to ensure their well-being," he said.
Azis added that a similar proposal was raised during the Warisan administration but was stalled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We proposed this before, but it did not materialise. It must now be revived. The current government must take this seriously and speed up its implementation. We cannot predict what will happen next week or next month, so action must be taken now. How many more fires and floods do we need before real action is taken?" he asked.
He also criticised the current standard operating procedure that limits aid distribution to three days, calling for an extension.
"Three days is simply not enough. Many families have lost everything. The government should extend the aid period to at least a week to give them time to recover and find alternative housing, especially with the approaching Ramadan and school season," he said.
Azis also urged authorities to ensure mobile clinics remain accessible to victims for an extended period.
SANTIAGO DE CHILE, 1 Mac: Perkhidmatan Pencegahan dan Tindak Balas Bencana Kebangsaan (SENAPRED) bersedia menghadapi sebarang kecemasan susulan ramalan saintis mengenai kemungkinan berlakunya gempa bumi mega di Chile.
Prensa Latina melaporkan bahawa Pengarah Pusat Seismologi Kebangsaan, Sergio Barrientos, berkata terdapat kemungkinan 65 peratus berlakunya gempa bumi bermagnitud lapan atau lebih besar pada 2026.
Penyelidik utama di Institut Oseanografi Millennium Universiti Concepcion, Dr Marcos Moreno, turut sependapat selepas mengesan perubahan di dasar laut di Palung Atacama.
“Data di darat menunjukkan kawasan ini sedang mengumpul tenaga dan satu gempa bumi mega bermagnitud antara 8.0 hingga 8.5 mungkin berlaku tidak lama lagi,” katanya.
Susulan amaran pakar, SENAPRED melaporkan bahawa pihaknya telah lama melaksanakan pelbagai penambahbaikan dalam pelbagai aspek.
Langkah penting yang diambil termasuk penubuhan Unit Amaran Awal di setiap wilayah, kata Pengarah Kebangsaan SENAPRED, Alicia Cebrian.
Selain itu, Sistem Amaran Kecemasan (SAE) melalui telefon bimbit turut digunakan bagi mengukuhkan proses pemindahan sekiranya berlaku tsunami.
Proses pemberian konsesi untuk pemasangan lebih 1,000 siren amaran di sepanjang pantai juga sedang dijalankan.
Isu ini menjadi tumpuan berikutan ulang tahun ke-15 gempa bumi bermagnitud 8.8 dan tsunami yang mengorbankan lebih 500 nyawa serta menyebabkan dua juta orang kehilangan tempat tinggal.
“Kenangan 27 Feb itu seharusnya menjadi peringatan untuk bersiap sedia menghadapi kecemasan pada masa depan, dan pengajaran daripada kejadian itu perlu terus membentuk cara negara ini memperkukuh ketahanan secara mampan tanpa meninggalkan sesiapa,” kata Cebrian, sambil menegaskan bahawa sejarah telah mengajar bahawa persediaan adalah pertahanan terbaik terhadap sebarang kejadian luar jangka.-TVS
Dalitta doesn't dilly-dally: Village chief turns home into a flood shelter whenever disaster hits
- Admin UKK
- Berita
KOTA KINABALU: Dalitta Dally does not wait around for official aid when floods hit her village, Kampung Rancangan Cocos, Paitan.
Instead, the 49-year-old village head (Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung, JKKK) and businesswoman takes matters into her own hands, turning her home into a temporary relief centre for displaced villagers.
For the past three years, Dalitta’s house has become a place of refuge whenever disaster strikes. The recent flood, which caught residents off guard, was no exception.
"This time, it was unexpected," she said, recalling how the water levels rose suddenly.
With over 600 villagers in the community—many working in factories and palm oil plantations—flooding has become a yearly ordeal. Though some are able to evacuate on their own, Dalitta prioritises helping the elderly and families with young children.
Officially, the government has provided a designated flood relief centre, but it is located in a low-lying area. Fearing for the safety of evacuees, she instead opens her own home, which sits on higher ground. "I wanted a safer place, so I chose my house," she said.
Her initiative has sheltered up to 69 people at one time, the highest recorded in 2023. As of Saturday (March 1) morning, six families, consisting of 16 people, remain under her roof, uncertain when they will be able to return to their homes.
Though managing the situation is challenging, she finds joy in seeing the community come together.
"When we gather like this, it’s not just about surviving the flood—we reconnect, we talk, we support each other," she shared.
However, flood relief efforts have not always been smooth. The latest flood submerged several villages, including parts of Paitan and Labuk, making it difficult for emergency responders to reach affected areas.
Elderly villagers voiced their frustration, questioning why evacuation efforts had not arrived sooner.
"I couldn’t just decide on my own to move them. We have to follow procedures," Dalitta explained.
"The police have to assess the situation first, but sometimes things happen so suddenly that the community expects immediate action."
Paitan is a remote sub-district in northern Sabah, approximately a four to five-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, known for its rural communities, dense forests, and frequent flood-prone areas due to its proximity to rivers and low-lying terrain. Most of the villagers are oil palm farmers and factory workers, relying on agriculture and industrial jobs for their livelihood.
While she remains committed to helping, Dalitta knows a long-term solution is needed.
Some villagers have suggested the government build a permanent flood evacuation centre on higher ground, but so far, no decision has been made due to budget constraints.
"We can’t just ask and expect things to happen overnight," she said. "But a proper centre would make a big difference."
She envisions a well-equipped relief centre, one with adequate food supplies, sleeping areas, and medical assistance—something beyond makeshift arrangements in villagers’ homes.
"Right now, we rely on what we have. We make do with limited space, share food, and help each other. But this isn’t a permanent solution."
Dalitta believes that every flood season brings uncertainty, and each time, villagers are left scrambling to find shelter.
"We know the floods are coming—it's not a surprise anymore. So why not prepare better?" she asked.
She hopes the government will take action before another major disaster strikes.
"We’re not asking for luxury—just a safe place where people can go when the water rises. Somewhere that doesn’t depend on whether someone like me decides to open their home."
For now, as flood risks persist, Dalitta is prepared to step up again when her community needs her. "It’s never easy, but when you see everyone safe, that’s what matters most."
Paitan has been hit by two floods this year, with the first in late January displacing around 240 residents. The second occurred on February 27, forcing 57 people from 19 families into relief centres.