This actually is not good news for Penang. He should stop mega projects and concentrate on how to solve traffic problems first

The tunnel is just a side show. It will not take place because it will most certainly fail at the EIA stage given its impact on the Penang Port.

The Tanjung Bungah – Teluk Bahang and the Air Itam projects will take place.

Gurney drive is a tsunami prone area , what would happen to the undersea tunnel if a tsunami hits ? A flooded tunnel with lots of submerged vehicles inside ….

In a tsunami, the energy is carried on the surface. It is safer in an undersea tunnel than on coastal land……not unless Penang is at the epi-centre of an earthquake. Then nothing is safe on land or under the sea!

JP :
It is safer in an undersea tunnel than on coastal land……

The entrance of the tunnel will be on coastal land where the big gush of water would be surging into the tunnel . Safe ?

Malaysia is well-known for it’s maintenance quality (or rather the lack of it). Without good maintenance, the tunnel is a big risk. When the exhaust fans break down during a traffic jam in the tunnel, people will start to die one by one of exhaust intoxication…:)

Whether it fails the EIA or not, the rakyat has to voice out what they want, before it’s too late. But looks like the state would proceed anyway regardless what the rakyat wants…:)

@yeahright
The “tsunami” that occurred in Gurnery Drive a few years ago were just “unusually large waves” that have almost exhausted. If ever there is a huge tsunami to hit Penang, what else is safe? Maybe get a diving suite just in case!

yeahright :

JP :
It is safer in an undersea tunnel than on coastal land……

The entrance of the tunnel will be on coastal land where the big gush of water would be surging into the tunnel . Safe ?

White elephant in making, airport water leak and flood also cannot resolved now wan to hope fot sea tunnel? No wa la i love my life more than traffic jam, its ok for me to jam all the way from gurney to bayan lepas 2nd bridge. I wont take a my life risk at the clown hand.

@ lol

Its not empty vessel…..its EMPTY BARREL making lotsa noise.

I like the tunnel. More choice to travel between mainland and penang Island.

@ezalor
ya like the tunnel so short 6.5km only can reach gurney compare to 2nd bridge 23km so long go batu maung for wat?

Well, we just need development, or we will stuck in the dead Island one day as traffic flows are getting heavier day by day but there’s no new access.

As for the expertise, maybe Penangites we don’t have it, but we can always borrow from outsides. Just like Singapore getting the expertise from Israel for their Tunnels and defenses.

Perhaps those who against on these projects are need to be more open minded and accept changes.

And i believe, those who are complaining here are also complaining the Government of Penang while they are stucked in the heavy traffic one day.

@lol

Your points are very relevant and it shows your maturity.

I FULLY support the projects. I wish the first undersea tunnel in Southeast Asia can be completed much earlier … 2020 ?

@sst
yes concentrate on how to solve traffic problems first. For example I think no one knows the layout of exit road to 2nd bridge. Federal just build a bridge over the sea, exit after the bridge is under state. Anyone ever see the proposed exit road after the bridge? i think state also dont have the proposed exit road plan.

I was told by some older Penangites that a lot of people were making noise when the coastal highway (Lim Chong Eu Expressway) was being constructed.
But, can you imagine life on Penang island without the coastal highway now? I think it is just history repeating itself, but as long as the proper environmental reports are done & validated.

Safety vs traffic jam which one more important?

Come on..how u know the tunnel is not safe to use? Seems like u are engineer? Otherwise dont pretend like u know everything.

@Tokong2

Why only focus on the sea tunnel, but ignore the other 3 bypass roads? Before this tunnel completed in 2025, the toll free bypass road from Gurney Drive (where the sea tunnel/ bridge connected) to Tun Lim Express already completed in 2022. The Gurney Drive will also be expanded to 6 lanes, right? The pair road from Tanjong Bungah to Teluk Bahang will also be completed in 2018. Bypass road from Air Itam to Tum Lim Express to be completed in 2019, last phase of the Tun Lim Express will also connected the Jalan Jelutong to Tum Lim Express in 2-3 years time. Relax man. Sea tunnel is a long term project and so much upgrading and news access roads will be completed before that. Probably we could have had monorail already before 2025.

@Chocolate
Tokong not engineer. Tokong is fortune teller.

JP :
@yeahright
The “tsunami” that occurred in Gurnery Drive a few years ago were just “unusually large waves” that have almost exhausted.

The lowest point of the tunnel beneath the ocean floor is tens of metres lower than both of its main entrances on coastal land , so in case of a tsunami the tunnel will behave like a gigantic drain going downward deep down to the ocean floor that will suck in any water faster than other area , the water going downward like that is just like a waterfall laa, but with no drain out , so the water will simply linger inside the tunnel for God knows how long !

Kind of strange to think that they would choose a tsunami risk area for the tunnel in the first place , well , the next time the tsunami hits is the water gonna be less , the same or more , no one knows so why take the risk ?

@Chocolate

Actually you don’t have to be an engineering genius to figure this out. Just take our traffic and street lights in some parts of the island, ever wonder why the time they stop working seems to coincide with the rain?..:)

Our Fort Convallis, after so much hoo-ha about awarding the maintenance & operations contract to a best contractor blah blah, and what you have today is still that pathetic place to which I still feel a little bit embarrassed to bring my foreign guests. Of course, no one so far has figured out how to make money from that fort, therefore no one’s interested in running it.

So now the tunnel, after building it with the money from selling land, you need to maintain it with toll money. Will the toll money be sufficient to run the tunnel? What if not? The contractor will top up the shortfall from his own pocket? Or maybe they can come back to the state for more money since the state is so good in selling land? Or maybe they can start a campaign to encourage more cars to come to island so that more toll can be collected? Or worst case, just keep 2 exhaust fans running instead of 10 to save cost lah!!…:)

I neither agree nor reject the idea to built tunner but what i see is everyone comment like expert. Simple, do u think gov will built something kill his citizen? Money wise put aside as this is subjective topic.

The nature of any undersea tunnel is its entrance on coastal land then going down to the ocean floor then going up again to the other entrance on coastal land ….. so any water gushing in inside the tunnel will not be easily drained out !

@condomana
The high cost of maintaining an undersea tunnel , and to constantly on the lookout for any cracks and leaks …

@sound

Yes, I cannot imagine life without the coastal highway now, because we have been using the approach of “build more roads to alleviate traffic jam”….:) If we had switched our mentality to “build light rail, discourage cars”, we would have been able to allocate much much more of our financial resources to other things than building roads….:)

condomana :
@sound
If we had switched our mentality to “build light rail, discourage cars”, we would have been able to allocate much much more of our financial resources to other things than building roads….:)

I totally agrre with this statement!

@condomana
Then why did you bother buying the brezza, isnt it a reclaim land? You are not concern about your safety?

Please lar…….

@Chocolate

The state is not an expert in traffic, not in tunnel building, not in tunnel maintenance. They listen to “consultants” and make a call about what’s needed. This is one big piece of wagyu beef. The wagyu beef is not subjective. Everyone involved is very “objective” towards the wagyu beef!…:D The only thing subjective here is whether the tunnel would bring more harm or good…:)

@lol

*sigh* you and your brezza again….:D

@Chocolate

It’s still not too late.

condomana :
@sound
Yes, I cannot imagine life without the coastal highway now, because we have been using the approach of “build more roads to alleviate traffic jam”….:) If we had switched our mentality to “build light rail, discourage cars”, we would have been able to allocate much much more of our financial resources to other things than building roads….:)

you hypocritelah condom, you always complain on one way street in pulau tikus makes you life difficult, then stop using car, use bus or cycle. Maybe the one way street is a good way to discourage people from using cars.

@KeLengkeSi

I agree with you, we need development, and to be specific, “sustainable” development. Sustainable in terms of future growth capacity, in terms of environment, quality of living, efficiency, social equality, affordability, and at the end of the day, happiness. Ain’t that what everyone is looking for?…:)

I agree with you again that we have to be open minded. But opening it is not enough, we have to open it, and than jump out of the box, grab the word “sustainable”, wrap it around your mind, flip it, and than look clearly what’s ahead. Now that’s a real open mind!..:)

So u see now..eveyone is comment base on their own benefit! How to judge??

@mana

If the pulau tikus jam was an intended result, I would have given the state an A+!…:D But to be fair, they have done their fair share of work over the last couple of months tweaking here and there, and I think they have got most of the “little but lethal” bottlenecks that screwed up the whole flow. Keep it up.

So don’t say I hypocrite lah. If they provide light rail that is punctual and fast, I promise I will sell my car…:)

mana :

condomana :@soundYes, I cannot imagine life without the coastal highway now, because we have been using the approach of “build more roads to alleviate traffic jam”….:) If we had switched our mentality to “build light rail, discourage cars”, we would have been able to allocate much much more of our financial resources to other things than building roads….:)

you hypocritelah condom, you always complain on one way street in pulau tikus makes you life difficult, then stop using car, use bus or cycle. Maybe the one way street is a good way to discourage people from using cars.

So agree…condom very hypocrite…

condomana :@mana
If the pulau tikus jam was an intended result, I would have given the state an A+!…:D But to be fair, they have done their fair share of work over the last couple of months tweaking here and there, and I think they have got most of the “little but lethal” bottlenecks that screwed up the whole flow. Keep it up.
So don’t say I hypocrite lah. If they provide light rail that is punctual and fast, I promise I will sell my car…:)

i agree with u

yeahright :The nature of any undersea tunnel is its entrance on coastal land then going down to the ocean floor then going up again to the other entrance on coastal land ….. so any water gushing in inside the tunnel will not be easily drained out !

It would be paranoid to think that everything is not safe. Do you also worry about the bridge collapsing when hit by a strong tsunami? Or that lift that takes you up your high rise condominium everyday…is that safe too?

JP :
It would be paranoid to think that everything is not safe. Do you also worry about the bridge collapsing when hit by a strong tsunami? Or that lift that takes you up your high rise condominium everyday…is that safe too?

How come when I talked about a very specific issue concerning the risk to built the undersea tunnel in a tsunami prone area, yet you understood it as me being paranoid about the safety of everything else ?

I don’t understand your reasoning really . If I said I don’t like an apple, does that mean I don’t like all kind of fruits in general or does that mean I just don’t like an apple only ? Do you understand the difference between discussing about “a very specific thing” and discussing about “everything” ?

@yeahright

Because strong tsunami should not make you worry about the tunnel only…

TR :
@yeahright
Because strong tsunami should not make you worry about the tunnel only…

If one on dry land, one can still find a higher ground or highrise building to escape in case of a tsunami, and I’ve never heard of a highrise building or a bridge collapsing during a tsunami !

An undersea tunnel when struck by a tsunami is like a death trap with no way out because an undersea tunnel is tens of metres below sea level , hey its way wayyy below ground level and the surging water that got inside the tunnel will simply turn the tunnel into an underground pool metres deep. But on land the water will eventually recede , the same cannot be said with an undersea tunnel so there is a big difference there!

If the state gov cannot overcome the flash flood at jalan P Ramlee that happens on land in front of their eyes during rainy season for years and years , what makes they think they can overcome the tsunami water in the tunnel tens of metres below ground level ?

Why still want to build a death trap like that in a tsunami prone area?

@yeahright
if you have visited Hong Kong before you would know that such sea tunnel are very common.

i don’t know why there are so many experts all of a sudden claiming this and that.

If i am you, i would just sit back and relax and enjoy the show.

@lol
There is NO tsunami in hongkong’s recorded history . Hongkong only has lots of typhoon, and on facebook there is a youtube video of the flooding that occured inside the Cross Harbour tunnel on may 2013, the tunnel is an undersea tunnel .

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151453931052098&set=vb.695887097&type=2&theater

You all want to see what flooding in a tunnel looks like ?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/videos/2012/10/30/nyc-underwater-tunnel-floods.html

There is NO tsunami in hongkong’s recorded history . Hongkong only has lots of typhoons , and on facebook there is a youtube video of the flooding that occured inside the Cross Harbour tunnel on may 2013, the tunnel is an undersea tunnel .

But hongkong survives so many storms and typhoons with world class infrastructures and facilities ! They have very sofisticated drainage and sewage system unlike Penang !

They got various flood prevention and sewerage infrastructure projects going and they even constructed a special drainage tunnel worth billions of dollars just to divert flood water from the city in order to prevent flash flood !

You can’t compare the world class infrastructures and facilities in hongkong with what we have here in Penang ! Penang merely suffers from seasonal rains which is nothing when compared with typhoon , yet already flooding here and there in penang even though just 4 hours of heavy rains !In case of a typhoon I think the whole Penang would simply submerge in water .

@yeahright

This tunnel thing really gets into you… 😀

@yeahright

Are you sure about the flooding in the undersea tunnel in Hong Kong? How bad was the flood? Must be quite a job to pump the water out! I can imagine if that happens in Penang, it’ll be – “aiyoh, pump not working wor”! Hhmm….it sure sounds expensive to maintain a tunnel, is the toll of RM7 /car enough for the maintenance? ….:D

Simple rainwater flooding on the roads also cannot solve maa, how to solve big flooding in the tunnel from major disaster like tsunami or storm ? Aiyaa ukur baju pada badan sendiri laaa. Please don’t think penang can be like hongkong or london for the sake of having lots of highrise building !

@condomana

google this “Cross Harbour Tunnel Flooding – Hong Kong Black Rain Storm ” , lots of info about the flooding .

you guys are not professionals nor consultants but you guys speak as if you went through years of training in engineering and architecture.

It is funny how simple people would think of themselves. No harm in dreaming big but sometimes it is good to take a look at the mirror and keep 2 feet on the ground.

The undersea tunnel in HK also built by China…i really dont understand the hoohahhhh

lol :
@yeahright
if you have visited Hong Kong before you would know that such sea tunnel are very common.
i don’t know why there are so many experts all of a sudden claiming this and that.
If i am you, i would just sit back and relax and enjoy the show.

Any projects undertaking by Malaysia always got traggic things happend, airport also got many leaking and flooding, whats more this is sea tunnel? Can put our life trust in their hand kut?

lol :
you guys are not professionals nor consultants but you guys speak as if you went through years of training in engineering and architecture.
It is funny how simple people would think of themselves. No harm in dreaming big but sometimes it is good to take a look at the mirror and keep 2 feet on the ground.
The undersea tunnel in HK also built by China…i really dont understand the hoohahhhh

Main contractor is China, but then sub to who ? Sub contractors are made in Malaysia. Malaysia boleh! I rather use bridge lo

@Tokong
then you better take bridge lo.

@Tokong

Pi guna jambatan la. Bising apa…..

@Micheal
u use tunnel coz u will get free toll

Instead of sea tunnel, Penang government shall take a look on PENANG International Airport Expansion, reclaim land at batu maung seaside! Other than that, focus on increasing Penangnites disposable income and improving foundation of skills,technology and productivity. MRT/LRT should come first..what a joke for seatunnel.

I render my support for bypass outer ring road, but not for sea tunnel. 2 bridge + 1 ferry is sufficient to cater for 1million Pg island population, bear in mind Penang itself(mainland+island) population not even 2millions..

@nd4spd

Should be no problem if our income tax is paying to the state. Airport tax also go to federal.

@nd4spd

It’s a no brainer, everyone knows light rail is very suitable for Penang island. But it’s sad that a lot of the times, people don’t make decision objectively….:)

@Hemsley

In fact, although income tax goes to federal, the money will finally find it’s way back to Penang as the law has provided for that, based on how much infra we have here (eg. roads, bridges etc). But one might whine that we are being short-changed because the money we receive is less than the tax we pay. Well, that’s how the system works, the more you earn, the more tax you pay. It’s the same everywhere in the world, except the communists!…:)

@condomana

Not able to agree with you for this point. First, airport is under MAHB, and the expansion is under federal authority. It is making no sense for Pg gov to use Pg own money to expend the airport for MAHB, and airport tax goes to MAHB. And yet, federal will not approve the expansion project.

LRT, well, not sure is it you are the one or some other guy said Pg gov can built the rail, and wait for fed to install the train. To me, this is lagi making no sense, building a project without a completion date, and maybe never be approved and completed.

Roads, Pg gov just applied to have specific bicycle lane on federal roads, such a simple thing also get rejected. Can we talk about building more roads if it required to reclaim federal land?

What kind of law can be applied to cash flow? If you get it, you will be the richest man in the world.

@Hemsley

Huh? I think we’re not on the same page!….:D

The 1st bridge has reach saturation. The 2nd bridge is to grow the southern part of Penang. The tunnel is the ease congestion at the north and the first bridge. If government plans to build MRT all the way to Butterworth, no complain also.

like i said, too many experts here already.

Claiming to know this and that.

Even hypocrites. Say bad but still buy.

So lets all just enjoy the show. I am just going to sit back and relax.

Hemsley :@condomana
Not able to agree with you for this point. First, airport is under MAHB, and the expansion is under federal authority. It is making no sense for Pg gov to use Pg own money to expend the airport for MAHB, and airport tax goes to MAHB. And yet, federal will not approve the expansion project.
LRT, well, not sure is it you are the one or some other guy said Pg gov can built the rail, and wait for fed to install the train. To me, this is lagi making no sense, building a project without a completion date, and maybe never be approved and completed.
Roads, Pg gov just applied to have specific bicycle lane on federal roads, such a simple thing also get rejected. Can we talk about building more roads if it required to reclaim federal land?
What kind of law can be applied to cash flow? If you get it, you will be the richest man in the world.

How many federal road compare to state road?? majority road is under state JKR and engineering department, so no problem to implement bicycle lane. Almost 80% taxs u pay is under state except income tax and road tax.

@Tokong2

What is the 80% tax? State only collect 2 taxes, state land related taxes and islamic religions taxes. With this, my tax to state gov is <5% of my total tax paid.

And the key point is, if fed gov can't approval a bicycle lane, will they approve LRT/ monorail?

It seems to me that the primary critics here are Islanders, who want the Island to remain theirs only and as secluded as possible. Any of these Islanders been to Butterworth lately? If they want an isolated life, perhaps they should continue their fight against the tunnel and stay…in Butterworth.

You guys voted “Tokong” in. He did present the project before the general election. You guys had your chance. He would look stupid to scrap it now unless the EIA prohibits such construction.

@Tokong2
Hahahaha, u r funny. What are the 80% tax u are referring to? Road tax, condo maintenance and sinking fund, hire purchase tax, property gain tax, and so many more for our act smart wannabes here. Lolx..

@penang nang

You really think the PropertyTalk “Tokong” voted for PR?

ToKong sounds like “Tua KONG” @ Boasting without facts.

@Butterworthboy
I am 100% agree with you, it seems like the islander is objecting to this tunnel proposal. Why do they need the tunnel in the first place, they hav never been to the seberang so how they know how we progress. Hohoho…

I agree to have tunnel

The tunnel will not be useful.

Agreed!
@Chocolate