This was Barisan Nasional candidate for Pulau Tikus Rowena Yam's message to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who appeared to be bent on pushing for an undersea tunnel, which she said was going to bring environmental degradation to Penang's seafront promenade.

Yam was responding to a New Straits Times report on Wednesday over a survey which revealed that Penangites were not given adequate information by the state authorities over a multi-billion ringgit infrastructure project involving the tunnel and three highways.

"I am shocked that the independent poll by non-governmental organisation Citizens Awareness Group revealed that 75 per cent of the 1,000 respondents said the government had not provided enough information on the projects before they were approved and awarded to a consortium.

"Moreover, the report stated that 80 per cent of the respondents did not know that the construction of the undersea tunnel might potentially sacrifice the seafront promenade of Gurney Drive.

"If this is true, the Pulau Tikus constituency is bound to lose its most iconic landmark and a public recreational seafront. I am sure Penangites want to know how the 6.5km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel and the 4.2km bypass at the Gurney Drive-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu highway are going to impact the seafront promenade."

Gurney Drive, located in the Pulau Tikus neighbourhood, is lined with condominiums where owners paid a premium for the seafront view.

Yam was referring to Lim's recent announcement that his administration had awarded a RM6.3 billion infrastructure project to a Sino-Malaysian consortium.

"The Gurney Drive beaches are gradually disappearing due to coastal erosion and land reclamation. The state government should embark on projects to restore the beaches to its former glory. I would also propose that they be turned into a larger stretch of white sandy beaches for visitors to come and enjoy a sunny day by the sea."

Yam, 44, who is a lawyer, said she would leave it to the voters to decide if they would like to vote for an environmentally-revitalised Gurney Drive or the undersea tunnel and the destruction of Gurney Drive.

Barisan Nasional candidates for Pulau Tikus Rowena Yam and Bukit Bendera Teh Leong Meng (right) having a light moment with a barber during their walkabout at Pulau Tikus market. Pic by Goh Thean Howe

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'Restore, not destroy Penang beaches'