Penang transport plan critics not anti-govt, says activist

GEORGE TOWN – There is room for civil society groups to improve ties with the DAP-led state government despite disagreements over the multi-billion ringgit Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), says a veteran activist.

Meenakshi Raman, who is Consumers Association of Penang’s (CAP) honorary secretary and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president, said civil society is not anti-government but critical of the current master plan that may bring more destruction of the environment and cost for remedial work later.

Penang Forum, an umbrella movement of many civil society groups here, has vehemently opposed the master plan since it was first mooted in 2009 despite repeated town hall sessions, meetings, conferences and dialogues.

“We do not hate the state government. We are willing to engage them and discuss the best alternative to this monstrous infrastructure project. It (PTMP) is a disaster in the making.”

Penang Forum had presented a cheaper alternative that saw improving public bus services to meet the commuter demand rather than constructing more roads and infrastructure.

Speaking at the sidelines of the CAP green action week here, Meenakshi said civil society is dumbfounded why the state has vigorously defended the master plan where developers are allowed a role in developing the additional 1,831ha of land carved out from the three reclaimed islands.

“We should stick to projects that do not further damage the ecosystem, which is already ailing from decades of wanton rapid development.”

She said the master plan has a lasting legacy on the state, but at the expense of the environment.

If land and development are needed, Meenaskhi urged the state to focus on Seberang Prai on the mainland because the island’s fragile ecosystem needed conservation, not development.

The master plan calls for the development of at least five highways on the island and some with elevated routes, a light rail system from Komtar to the Penang International Airport, a water taxi service and a cable car that links Weld Quay on the island to mainland Butterworth.

Also, it has the proposed 6.2km undersea tunnel from Bagan Ajam on the mainland to Gurney Drive here.

In another development, an official with the Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd (PIC) - the special vehicle formed to coordinate the start of the plan – had clarified that the state government was not the party responsible for arranging for the Penang Forum to speak at the National Physical Planning Council meeting last year, which was chaired by then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed.

The official said the forum members had misunderstood, saying that certain parties and not the state, were instrumental in inviting representatives Khoo Salma Nasution and Dr Lim Mah Hui to attend.

“The state government has never said that it was the party that brought them (forum) to the session. The state only explained that we have never stopped them from submitting their views, including when they were given the opportunity to make a presentation to the council and Dr Mahathir.”

Last month, PIC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farizan Darus said the state had been transparent in engaging the critics of the master plan, and there was no need to meet again unless there were other developments. – The Vibes, October 4, 2020

This article is written by Ian McIntyre and Sofia Nasir.