Financial Issues Believed to Be Main Cause of Delay in Penang Bypass Project, Says Kon Yeow
GEORGE TOWN: Chow Kon Yeow said financial difficulties are believed to be the primary reason behind delays affecting Package 2 of the bypass road project linking the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to Ayer Itam, which is now expected to be completed in April 2027.
He clarified that claims suggesting the project had taken up to 14 years to complete were inaccurate because the actual construction contract was only awarded in 2020.
According to him, the implementation timeline should be calculated from the date the contract was awarded rather than from the year the project was first proposed.
“The contract was only awarded in 2020, so it is inaccurate to claim the project has taken 14 years to complete.
“Construction work is still ongoing and the completion timeline remains set for April 2027,” he said after attending the launch of the ‘Oh Malaysiaku’ music video here today.
Construction Continues Despite Delays
Chow Kon Yeow said the project is still progressing despite experiencing delays and has not yet exceeded its revised completion deadline.
The approximately six-kilometre bypass road was originally scheduled to be completed in 2025 before the deadline was extended to 2027.
He explained that financial constraints involving the concession company and project developer were believed to be among the key causes of the delay.
“There are indeed delays involving this project, but construction activities are still continuing.
“I believe financial issues involving the concession company are among the major contributing factors,” he said.
Criticism Over Project Timeline
The project had previously come under criticism from several parties who claimed it was among the Penang state government’s delayed infrastructure developments.
Based on previous project records, the bypass proposal was first announced in 2013, while the state government reportedly spent around RM46.2 million on related studies in 2015.
The project was officially launched in 2019 before physical construction works began around 2021.
The RM851 million project is intended to ease traffic congestion, particularly in the Ayer Itam area and major routes surrounding George Town.
Covid-19 No Longer Main Factor
Meanwhile, Chow Kon Yeow dismissed claims that the Covid-19 pandemic remains the main reason behind the project’s slow progress.
Instead, he stressed that financial challenges faced by the relevant parties have become the more significant issue affecting the project’s development.
He added that the Penang state government will continue monitoring construction progress to ensure the project can be completed within the revised schedule.
