Ahmad Zaki (right) meeting residents in the area as he campaigns for the seat of Teluk Bahang. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
IF THE present administration wins the state polls, voters can look forward to the Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang Dual Carriageway mega project.
The Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional’s election manifesto states that the project, popularly known as the North Coastal Paired Road (Package One), will be built.
It is one of three new roads that are part of the Penang Undersea Tunnel project.
When asked about it, Barisan’s Telok Bahang candidate, Ahmad Zaki Shah Shah Headan from Umno, said the project would benefit the people.
While acknowledging that it would give everyone easier access, he said they would have to be mindful that good accessibility could lead to over-development.
Lt-Kol Muhamad (in black songkok) and his team doing their campaign rounds at Jalan Kampung Rawai in Teluk Bahang.
“We need to retain the area’s kampung charm and ensure that the road project will not negatively impact the natural environment,” he said.
Perikatan Nasional’s retired Lt-Kol Muhamad Kasim, from Bersatu, said although he would not object to a project that would benefit the masses, a proper study must be done.
“I think further discussions on the benefits, costs and areas affected as well as details must be provided. Everything must be done in a transparent manner,” he said.
Early reports indicated that the project would be a four-lane road from Teluk Bahang, which would end in the L-shaped road bend known to locals as the Vale of Tempe that is a two-lane road in Tanjung Bungah.
It would pass the Batu Ferringhi tourism belt, which often sees gridlock during holiday periods.
According to the project’s environmental impact assessment, the travel time from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang using the existing road is between 20 and 23 minutes.
The proposed highway will reduce travel time to nine minutes with vehicles travelling at about 70km/h.
The existing federal road is more than a century old and sandwiched between private land and public beaches, making the possibility of upgrading and widening it nearly impossible.
Telok Bahang is one of three state seats under the Balik Pulau parliamentary constituency. The other two are Bayan Lepas and Pulau Betong.
Teluk Bahang is also home to popular attractions like Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm, Teluk Bahang National Park and the Escape Theme Park.
Ahmad Zaki, 34, said locals had raised the need for a night market in the area where they could set up stalls like those along the Batu Feringghi tourism belt.
“People usually stop in Batu Feringghi and only head over here for the parks.
“Teluk Bahang has so much more to offer but there is a lack of promotion and awareness.
“We need better signage because something as simple as that can make a huge difference.
“The area needs to be promoted before the locals can start businesses.
“They also need permits to trade and have asked me to look into it.
“I will do everything I can to boost the local economy,” said the lawyer, whose father is Umno veteran Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah who won the seat in 2013.
Lt-Kol Muhamad, 62, from Bersatu, said he hoped to create avenues for locals to earn more.
“They said the cost of living is going up, which is a problem not only here but all over.
“We have to create more job opportunities for them by having a night market.
“There are many opportunities here because of the tourism potential.
“Locals can offer tour guide services and start cottage industries like selling handicraft,” he said when met during a walkabout in Teluk Bahang.
Ahmad Zaki and Lt-Kol Muhamad are in a straight fight for the seat last held by Zolkifly Mohd Lazim of Bersatu, who won it under the Pakatan ticket in 2018.
He beat Ahmad Zaki’s father Datuk Shah Haedan Ayoob Hussain Shah (BN-Umno) by 425 votes.
Shah Headan received 5,057 votes while Mohd Ali Othman, from PAS, polled 1,469 votes.
In this state election, there are 17,927 registered voters. In 2018, the racial breakdown was 65.94% Malays, Chinese (30.32%), Indians (3.35%), indigenous Sabahan and Sarawakians (0.10%) and others (0.28%).
