All is certainly not ‘fine and dandy’ for Chow’s Penang government

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All is certainly not ‘fine and dandy’ for Chow’s Penang government

UPDATE

Don’t protect errant contractors, civil servants, Guan Eng tells Penang CM

The former CM says immediate structural issues were reportedly observed during the opening of Phase 1 of the Gurney Bay project.

FMT Reporters - 06 Feb 2024, 11:44am

Lim Guan Eng (left) has told Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow (right) to prioritise public safety over protecting negligent contractors and civil servants. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has urged Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow not to shield errant contractors and civil servants who fail in their monitoring and supervision duties.

Despite only RM58 million being paid to the contractor for Phase 1 of the Gurney Bay project, Lim said there were already problems, such as damaged structures and broken equipment, on the first day of its opening.

“But if work done can be damaged and broken immediately upon completion after RM58 million has been spent on Phase 1, how much confidence can we place in the contractor to do the remaining works of RM189 million in a fit and proper manner?” he said in a Facebook post.

“How was a contractor with such poor performance able to get appointed in the first place for such a major project costing RM247 million?”

Lim’s comments followed reports of immediate structural issues observed during the opening of Phase 1 of the Gurney Bay project.

Phase 1 of Gurney Bay, covering 11.2ha, boasts a viewing deck, playground, skate park, kiosks, toilets and open-air car parks, with a promenade around the park next to the sea.

The Star reported Chow, who was present at the project’s opening, as saying that work under Phase 2 was currently at 40% and expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Phase 2, which covers 29.98ha, will include a hawker centre, a multi-level car park, a vantage point, toilets, a water taxi jetty, beach, boardwalk and water garden.

Lim, Chow’s predecessor, said while the contractor was responsible for defects during a two-year damage liability period, this did not absolve them of poor workmanship or negligence.

“Fortunately, no children were injured by the broken ropes in the children’s playground. Imagine the trauma if children sustained injuries due to broken ropes,” he said.

He also urged the government to prioritise the public’s interests over shielding irresponsible contractors or civil servants.

“The government has no business letting off either contractors or government servants who allow equipment to be damaged or materials to be broken on the first day they are open to the public. This is unacceptable.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6, 2024: All is not fine and dandy for the DAP-led Penang government as former chief minister CM Lim Guan Eng, yet again, blasts the state’s administration.

Lim, a former CM for the DAP-led state and now party chairman, has been critical of the government administration led by Chow Kon Yeow.

This is not the first time Lim has hit out at his DAP-led statre.

Chow responded by accusing Lim of giving inaccurate information.

No News IUs Bad News reproduces below a news report on the matter:

MALAYSIA

Penang's long awaited Gurney Bay greeted with flak from former CM

Chow Kon Yeow responds to Lim Guan Eng's criticisms, saying that the contractor is bound to a two-year liability period.

Updated 14 hours ago · Published on 05 Feb 2024 7:45PM

Far from international standard? The newly completed first phase of Gurney Bay, Penang. YouTube - SCM Southern Corridor Malaysia screen grab

 BY Ian McIntyre

BARELY 24 HOURS after the highly anticipated Gurney Bay recreational park on reclaimed land was opened to the public formally, the project has been besieged with accusations of poor workmanship, with even claims of water pressure on the artificial green lung being too low.

Heads turned as former chief minister Lim Guan Eng took to social media early today to claim that the playground's facilities are not maintained well.

The DAP chairman also questioned the expenditure of RM247 million, stressing that the park should have been of an impressive international standard for such an amount spent.

His remarks drew an immediate response from his successor and current chief minister Chow Kon Yeow who issued a statement to clarify that Lim had given inaccurate information.

"Phase 1 of the Gurney Bay project did not cost RM247 million as alleged by Lim," said Chow.

 He explained that the RM247 million is the full cost of the Gurney Bay project, including both first and second phases.

“As of December 31, the state government has only paid RM58 million for the completed work.

“The RM247 million will only be spent once all of the project’s components are completed by 2026," he said.

Chow, who is a vice-chairman in DAP, also addressed Lim’s accusations of shoddy workmanship at the playground, saying that the contractor is responsible for any damage during a two-year liability period.

Besides sharing photographs of the playground equipment which he said were of inferior quality, Lim claimed that a concrete structure on the land showed cracks when the first phase was opened.

“Fortunately, the relevant parties acted quickly after complaints were lodged,” he said. “However, it does not stop questions from being asked on the quality of the work done.”

The Gurney Bay is a completely new seafront for Penang islanders.

It is developed on reclaimed land in front of the popular old Gurney Drive promenade which had become affected with coastal siltation and mud in it later years.

Second phase to open in 2025

Lim also said that the RM247 million costing of the project have “caused doubt and questions about its original plan, design, monitoring of results and work quality.”

“The RM247 million spent should have produced an international-level recreational park,” he said.

The first phase, covering 11.2ha, opened on Sunday, boasting a viewing deck, playground, skate park, kiosks, toilet, and open-air car parks, with a promenade around the park right next to the sea.

It is the first reclamation project to be rolled out under the Pakatan Harapan administration since it took control of the Penang state government in 2008.

Chow was reported as saying that work under Phase 2 is currently at 40% and it is expected to be completed by next year.

This next phase, covering 29.98ha, will include a hawker centre, a multi-level carpark, a vantage point, toilets, a water taxi jetty, beach, boardwalk, and water garden.

The Gurney Bay is a contentious project because it was opposed by civil society groups over concerns that the massive reclamation would adversely impact on marine life and ecology, as well as on tidal patterns and siltation. 

However, the developer and the state received the green light from the federal Department of Environment and went ahead with it. – The Vibes, February 5, 2024