GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to include the state’s planned light rail transit (LRT) and an elevated highway from Juru (Nibong Tebal) to Sg Dua (Butterworth) in this year’s revised national budget.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is optimistic that the infrastructure projects can be included as part of a public-private partnership deal to address the state’s worsening traffic congestion.
Penang endured a horrific traffic snarl during the recent Chinese New Year festive period such that it took one driver three hours to commute between Balik Pulau and George Town.
Anwar is scheduled to retable an updated Budget 2023 in Parliament next month which include, among others, measures to address rising living costs, a possible global recession, the weak ringgit, and inflation.
Speaking at the Padang Kota DAP Chinese New Year open house here today, Chow said that the LRT is a necessity due to the potential growth of vehicles on the island’s roads.
The elevated highway is aimed at alleviating congestion in Seberang Prai and, hence, both projects are crucial for Penang, he said.
He said that the two projects will be submitted under the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) framework.
Such projects are also meant to help the economies in the entire northern region consisting of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and northern Perak, Chow stressed.
“The LRT is our priority. The NCIA had mooted it in the initial 2022 budget,” Chow said in his speech.
He later told a press conference that he remains optimistic that the infrastructure projects will receive a favourable response from the federal government, which is now led by Anwar.
The proposed LRT spans from Komtar to the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas along a 26.7km route.
Chow also confirmed that a series of informal meetings are underway between representatives of all six state governments, whose elections are scheduled to be held by the end of August this year.
The six states are Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Penang is apparently receptive to the period from May to July whereas the PAS-led governments in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu are looking to hold polls in early March with the belief that momentum is currently with them. – The Vibes, January 27, 2023
