GEORGE TOWN – The unity government has unveiled a slew of infrastructure projects to ease the worsening congestion in Penang, including the possibility of extending the light rail service (LRT) line to connect the island with the mainland.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said these are the pledges that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) plans to undertake, especially if the unity coalition retains the state with an impressive margin in next month’s state election.
Since 2008, PH has held power in Penang for 15 years (three terms), and in the most recent election, it won 37 out of 40 state seats, its largest margin ever.
“We want to send a message to the people (voters) in Penang that we want to ensure Penang is developed well. The best is yet to come, but we need them to believe in us,” said Loke, who is DAP secretary-general.
Loke said this at the Penang DAP fundraising dinner in SRJK (C) Shang Wu before addressing the crowd at the launching of the Penang election machinery late last night.
The LRT is in principle approved, linking Komtar in George Town to the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, with another link created to link Tg Bungah to Komtar. The distance is about 50km in total.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told me we can’t only have LRT on the island. We need to connect the island and the mainland,” said Loke.
“With the backing of the prime minister, who is also the finance minister, we are confident we can carry out an LRT project that would connect both sides. It would ease the daily crossing over, and it will stimulate the state’s economy.”
It was previously reported that the state had proposed a connection link between the KTMB railway line near Penang Sentral and the airport in Bayan Lepas.
Another project is the electrical bus service, where conventional fuel-guzzling vehicles would be replaced in phases with electrical buses.
“The effort is in tandem to make Penang a green, liveable city,” said Loke.
Also, the cruise terminal at Swettenham Pier will be enlarged and deepened to accommodate the world’s largest ocean cruise ships.
Penang will become a hub for the cruise liner business in the region, he declared.
He added that the upgrading of the cruise facilities is part of the ministry’s effort to support Penang’s plans for a statewide integrated public transport system.
PH comprises PKR, DAP, and Amanah, which, together with the Barisan Nasional coalition, formed the bulk of the national unity government in the Peninsular.
In another development, Loke said that the five-member DAP candidate selection committee will sit down later this week to finalise its list of candidates.
Out of the six states facing elections next month, DAP is expected to contest in Penang, Kedah, Selangor, and Negri Sembilan.
The other states facing elections are Terengganu and Kelantan.
He urged the incumbents who are not refielded to respect the party’s decision and to help DAP consolidate its hold in states such as Penang.
Loke also dismissed the concept of having an elderly leadership council to advise the chief minister and state executive councillors (exco members) on governance and policy issues.
“We do not need another entity to oversee the state. Allow the present system to work where the chief minister and state exco members must deliver.”
Speculation continues to mount in Penang over the fate of five senior leaders after Chinese vernacular newspapers published reports that they may make way for younger blood.
The five are P. Ramasamy, 74; Chong Eng, 66; Phee Boon Poh, 71; Soon Lip Chee, 46; and Yeoh Soon Hin, 46. – The Vibes, July 17, 2023
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