Kam Suan Pheng says poor water flow management could trigger landslides, pointing to several hill-related disasters within the past decade.

A geospatial expert has cautioned that a new RM2.4 billion coastal highway linking Tanjung Bungah to Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang might come at a perilous cost to Penang’s fragile hill ecosystem.

Kam Suan Pheng, coordinator of community watchdog Penang Hills Watch, warned that poor water drainage on the North Coast Paired Road (NCPR) could lead to landslides and flooding.

She told FMT that the 10.61km road would cut across multiple rivers and tributaries, disrupting natural drainage patterns that help stabilise the hills.

More than half of the NCPR would be built on the hill ranges of Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang, at a cost of RM2.4 billion, the Penang government recently announced.

Kam said the state must remember past hill-related disasters, including the fatal 2018 Bukit Kukus landslide and 2017 collapse of bungalows near Surin Condo, as examples of what could happen when seasonal waterways are obstructed.

Seasonal waterways are streams or rivers that flow only during the rainy season or after heavy rain. They stay dry most of the year but can quickly fill up when water runs off from higher ground.

Kam warned that blocking these waterways could lead to landslides, as seen in past disasters. When roads or developments disrupt natural water flow, excess water can weaken the soil, making hills unstable and prone to collapse.

“One key lesson from previous landslides is that even streams that appear dry most of the year can ‘come to life’ during the rainy season. If their natural flow is blocked or altered, it can lead to soil instability and sudden landslides,” she said.

Although part of the NCPR will extend out to the sea before returning to land near Ratu Mutiara, she warned that large sections will still cut through steep hill slopes, making it important for the government to conduct thorough hydrological and bathymetric studies before starting.

She added that she would reserve further judgment until the state releases the project’s amended Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

An EIA was already granted some years back, but the state will submit a new one for approval since the project would go along the coast of the floating mosque in Tanjung Bungah.

“I would wait to see what the EIA has to say—hopefully it will be made public—rather than comment at this juncture,” she added.

The NCPR is a component of the Penang undersea tunnel and roads project, which in turn is part of the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan.

The NCPR aims to reduce travel time from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang from 45 minutes to just seven minutes. Construction is expected to take five years, with completion targeted by 2031.

Doubts and criticism

Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association president Zulfikar Aziz questioned the Penang government’s touting of a seven-minute travel time, saying the drastic reduction was unimaginable and mathematically impossible.

“In order to achieve a seven-minute travel time for a distance of 10.6km, you need to drive from start till the end at 90km/h,” he said.

On the other hand, environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia claimed the NCPR was a reckless project that prioritises private development interests over the environment.

“We had hoped common sense would have prevailed in not proceeding with the NCPR, given the massive hill-cutting that it will involve and the consequent negative impacts on a very fragile and environmentally sensitive area,” its president Meenakshi Raman said.

Meenakshi said the road would be built through hills above 250 feet and on slopes exceeding 25 degrees, areas she said should be protected under environmental laws.

Future human and wildlife conflicts was another major concern since the road will encroach into wildlife habitat, she added.

Meenakshi said SAM had objected to the project’s previous EIA and was surprised by the government’s decision to proceed despite earlier indications that it might be cancelled.

Both Zulkfikar and Meenakshi said the state government should focus on expanding ferry and public transport services instead of building more highways.

Zulkfikar said there has never been any real investment by the state into improving island-wide ferry services. He said a Teluk Bahang–Weld Quay ferry route would reduce car dependency, adding that Penang’s new ferry system has already proven effective.

“It is already past time that we should expand this route. Just buy some more of the same ferries and expand the route,” he said.

Meenakshi said Penang’s car-centric approach to transport went against its claims of commitment to climate change and sustainability.

Both Meenakshi and Zulfikar said that, as residents, they wanted full transparency on the project’s costs, land swaps, and environmental studies and for town halls to be held for public feedback.