Overwhelming public approval for Penang’s LRT project, says CM

The LRT alignment for Penang.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government today revealed that 97% of the people who visited the public inspection booths on the proposed light rail transit (LRT) agreed that the project should proceed despite public debate over its viability and cost.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said close to 3,000 people sent in their official feedback through these booths. Only 2.53% of them said they were against the plan.

Penang’s first LRT project, a 30km line on the island from Komtar to the airport, has been approved by regulators in Putrajaya. It will cost RM8.4 billion to build.

Chow said from the time the booths were opened on Aug 19 up to this morning, they had received 2,924 responses, with 2,850 people supporting the project and 74 objecting.

“We ask members of the public to come forward to inspect the LRT line proposal at these booths, including the one in Komtar, and give us their feedback,” he said at a press conference here today.

Local NGOs have argued that the LRT might suffer from low ridership, given Penang’s population, saying other smaller systems such as the Bus Rapid Transit or the newer ART (autonomous rail transit), a train-bus hybrid, was the best fit, as these were cheaper and more cost-effective.

However, one NGO, Anak Pinang, said an LRT was better in the long run as it would be elevated and would use a proven and reliable system.

Penang CM Chow Kon Yeow at the LRT inspection booth at Komtar last week.

At the same press conference, state Economic Planning Unit division secretary Maheswari Malayandy said the LRT’s detailed plans would not be uploaded online for fear of “unnecessary speculation”.

“The general plan of the LRT is already on the website. As for the detailed plan, it will only be available at the public inspection booths.”

The LRT’s basic details can be viewed on http://pgmasterplan.penang.gov.my.

The LRT plans can be viewed at the following locations during office hours: Komtar, Seberang Prai Municipal Council in Bukit Mertajam, Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) at One Precinct, Bayan Baru, and the APAD headquarters in Putrajaya.

Mobile booths have been set up at Tesco E-gate and the Penang International Airport (PIA) until Sept 21, besides Sunshine Square and Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal from Sept 19-22; Penang Sentral, Butterworth (Oct 6) and Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) in Bayan Lepas (Oct 9).

Separately, Chow said Penang recorded total approved investments of RM9.2 billion in the first half of this year, a significant increase from just RM5.7 billion in the whole of 2018.

He said based on data released by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, out of the RM9.2 billion, RM506.5 million was from domestic investments, while RM8.7 billion was foreign investments in the January to June period.

Chow said the numbers were for manufacturing-related investments.

“For the first six months of this year, Penang obtained the highest foreign investment among all states in the country,” he said.