Let university students enter politics, says Nazri

By Shahanaaz Habib, The Star

The floods affecting the northern states have nothing to do with the Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP), Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said.

The project will go on as it was part of the country’s development to improve on infrastructure, he added.

“We should not stop the project. Instead, we have to quickly finish it because all necessary works and preparations are done.

“The floods in the northern states have nothing to do with the project, why drag it into the matter?” Kong said in response to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s order on Friday to halt the project immediately.

The project is expected to be completed at the end of next year.

Separately, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said he disagreed with Lim who allegedly said Chor had previously mentioned the floods in Kedah were possibly due to the project.

Chor stressed that he did not say the project caused the flood problems.

“He (Lim) just used this as an excuse (to halt the project),” he said.

He explained that he had said earlier that the floods in Kedah were due to flood waters not being drained out fast enough.

“I said the EDTP contractor must ensure contingency plans are in place to let water flow out of the affected areas during heavy rain,” Chor added.

Meanwhile, KTM Bhd warned that halting the project would result in costly time delays, as well as affect the tourism industry.

KTMB and MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture will arrange further discussions with the Penang government to discuss alternative solutions.

KTMB said in a press statement the floods in Kedah were a result of heavy rainfall and this had been verified by a report from the Meteorological Department.

The company also stated that all construction work on the project, especially pertaining to irrigation and drainage, had been carried out according to industry standards.