LETTERS: The NST article "The RM13m 'flood' after Friday the 13th opening of promenade" paints a bleak picture of Penang's conservation work on the Esplanade seawall.
The article mentioned the "flooding", "poor planning", "engineering ineptitude" and that the project had "wasted precious resources and risks the lives and safety of taxpayers and visitors".
I would like to provide an alternative perspective. The Esplanade seawall is important for two reasons:
First, it forms the first line of defence in protecting George Town from the sea; Second, it is one of the oldest surviving heritage structures in Penang (1807).
Over the years, portions of the seawall had collapsed and efforts to repair the structure were done using different techniques, often with limited budgets and resources.
As a result, the seawall was left in a crumbling state. Given its significance, it makes absolute sense to restore it.
From a technical standpoint, the construction of the new seawall adopted methods that are similar to the seawall in Zanzibar, another Unesco World Herigare Site.
Both in Penang and Zanzibar, the seawall construction makes use of a mass gravity blocked wall with cut-off sheet piles at the bottom for long-term protection and resilience.
Its sturdy construction should last us many lifetimes. Anyone who has paid a visit to the site can attest to the durability of the new structure.
The materials used are also in keeping with the original design and fully blends in with the character of the World Heritage Site.
The main attraction of the seawall is a terrace promenade, a feature that is found in several international examples.
In Penang, the lower promenade was especially designed to offer a better view and to appreciate the historic value of the original structure.
In order to have a closer look, the terrace had to be built lower than the original wall. Common sense would tell you that because it is lower, the terrace is bound to get wet during high tide.
This was precisely why the design of the terrace allows for drainage and was constructed in such a way as to withstand structural damage when submerged under water.
Warning signs to prevent people from entering when the water level rises have also been prominently displayed on both ends of the promenade.
An added safety precaution is the closure of gates during bad weather such as the spring tide event that occurred a few days after the official opening. The City Council was quick to seal off access when the sea level began to rise that day.
No one was injured and the structure remained intact and no damage was recorded.
From the thousands of visitors who have come to enjoy Penang's new public facility, it would appear the new seawall is a great success.
It is, therefore, unfortunate to read such negative press on a project that ought to be regarded as a pride of Penang.
Surely, if similar adverse weather events happened onsite at the Great Wall Of China or the Eiffel Tower in France, one would not consider it a design flaw or an engineering ineptitude when the gatekeepers close the doors to visitors, would you?
DARYL YEAP
Penang
