FMT:
Penang LRT to be fully funded by Putrajaya, says PM
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the Penang South Islands project will be scaled down, having listened to the grouses of locals and fishermen affected.
Anwar Ibrahim greeting the public at the Hari Raya open house held at Universiti Teknologi Mara Penang in Bukit Mertajam. (Bernama pic)
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The federal government will fully fund the proposed Penang light rail transit (LRT) project, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
He added that the Penang South Islands (PSI) project will be scaled down. The PSI project had been planned to fund the LRT project, as part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).
He said traffic congestion on the island had become a pressing issue and noted that previous federal governments had not given enough funds to address it.
“It is not because I am a Penangite myself, but it (LRT) is a pressing need. After so long with two bridges, the traffic issue has yet to be addressed. And the state has repeatedly asked for allocation.
“So, I am pleased to announce that the federal government will add funds to a large scheme that would allow the Penang government to immediately implement the LRT project,” he said at an open house event at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Penang here.
At a press conference later, transport minister Loke Siew Fook confirmed that the LRT project will be fully funded by the federal government. He said Putrajaya will also determine the financing method.
It was previously reported that the cost of the LRT project was estimated to be RM10 billion.
Anwar also said he has heard the grouses of locals and fishermen on Penang island’s southern coast, where the reclamation of three islands under the controversial PSI project are to take place.
“To ease the issues arising from the island reclamation, the project will be restudied so its scope can be reduced,” he said.
The PSI project will cover a total of 1,821ha off the southern coast of Penang island between Permatang Damar Laut and Gertak Sanggul.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The federal government will fully fund the proposed Penang light rail transit (LRT) project, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
He added that the Penang South Islands (PSI) project will be scaled down. The PSI project had been planned to fund the LRT project, as part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).
He said traffic congestion on the island had become a pressing issue and noted that previous federal governments had not given enough funds to address it.
“It is not because I am a Penangite myself, but it (LRT) is a pressing need. After so long with two bridges, the traffic issue has yet to be addressed. And the state has repeatedly asked for allocation.
“So, I am pleased to announce that the federal government will add funds to a large scheme that would allow the Penang government to immediately implement the LRT project,” he said at an open house event at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Penang here.
At a press conference later, transport minister Loke Siew Fook confirmed that the LRT project will be fully funded by the federal government. He said Putrajaya will also determine the financing method.
It was previously reported that the cost of the LRT project was estimated to be RM10 billion.
Anwar also said he has heard the grouses of locals and fishermen on Penang island’s southern coast, where the reclamation of three islands under the controversial PSI project are to take place.
“To ease the issues arising from the island reclamation, the project will be restudied so its scope can be reduced,” he said.
The PSI project will cover a total of 1,821ha off the southern coast of Penang island between Permatang Damar Laut and Gertak Sanggul.
The Penang Rail Transit should have been publicly funded in the first place. Somewhere along the way, between PMs Mahathir, Dollah, Najib, Mahathir 2, Moo, Lowyat ... the unchangeable decision was NYET, there will be NO Federal government funded LRT for Penang.
ReplyDeleteAnd there will be NO Private financed LRT either, we wil make it impossible to take off.
Combined with groups in Penang who think Penang should only have nothing more than buses and trams.