Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has acknowledged that financial difficulties faced by the project concessionaire are behind the delay in completing the Air Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.
The RM851 million Package Two of the highway, stretching approximately 6km, was initially expected to be completed in 2025 after physical works began in February 2021.
Chow confirmed that works are still ongoing, and the final deadline has been set for April next year.
“There are delays but works are still in progress, the final deadline is April next year,” he said.
The project is being undertaken by Consortium Zenith Construction (CZC) under Penang Infrastructure Corporation (PIC).
When pressed about criticism that the project had dragged on for 14 years, Chow clarified that the contract was only awarded in 2020, with physical construction starting the following year.
He also dismissed the suggestion that the Covid-19 pandemic could still be cited as a reason for the financial difficulties.
“Covid has already passed. We cannot continue using the same excuse,” he said.
The project had previously been granted extensions of time (EOT). The first EOT, approved in 2023, set a completion date of 31 October 2026. A second EOT, granted in mid-2024, pushed the deadline to 12 April 2027.
The state government expects the highway to be fully operational by the extended deadline.
Source: Malay Mail
