The Penang state government in northern Malaysia is pressing for the federal authorities to adopt a southern route for the immersed tube tunnel and bridge being planned as the second Penang crossing.

A formal recommendation is due to be made by the Penang government by the end of this month after it opposed the project’s northern route put forward by the federal government.

The state authorities said a tunnel, built as part of the 8km northern route linking Bagan Jermal on Penang and Bagan Ajam in Butterworth, would cause massive problems for the future expansion of ports at both Penang and Butterworth.

Officials said a tunnel would restrict the size of ships that could use both North Butterworth container terminal and Penang to a maximum 15m draft. The next generation of container ships have drafts of at least 16m. As a result, both ports would face a slow decline.

&#8220We have been deluged with concerns raised by many quarters over the present site. ”

Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya

Penang’s deputy chief minister, Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya, said: "We have been deluged with concerns raised by many quarters over the present site."

The authorities pointed out that a northern tunnel would bring traffic to an already congested area.

Construction of the 20km southern link between Hujung Bukit and Batu Maung would prevent these problems, stimulating development in the southern areas of both the island and the mainland, and move people and traffic away from the city.

The minister said that, despite being two and half times the length of the northern route, the southern link "will cost about the same to build".