THE Penang Forum Steering Committee urged the state government to get a review from a global authority on the status of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

Lim Mah Hui said the committee had a “fruitful discussion” with the Council of Eminent Persons earlier today regarding the PTMP.

He said the committee was supportive of the plan but felt that the present version was too expensive and may not meet the objectives of solving the island’s transport problems.

“All we are asking is for the state government to consider getting an independent review from a global authority on the present status of the transport plan.

“We are not experts, but we know that there are certain issues that must be addressed,” Lim told reporters outside of Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur today.

Lim said the main concerns were its cost and how it would affect the environment

“We are all for a public transport system, but it should not be a mega project. It should be a seamless comprehensive system that, at the end of the day, covers the last mile and is accessible to everyone.”

The RM27 billion PTMP outlines public transport, highways, and traffic management strategies to be implemented by the state up until 2030 to tackle congestion in the state.

It is based on studies undertaken by transport consultant Halcrow several years ago.

However, civil groups, including environmentalists, had opposed the projects, as well as the proposed land reclamation.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the mega projects in the state were not headed in the same direction as the mega projects by the former Barisan Nasional government, which are now being reviewed by the Pakatan Harapan government.

He said that following calls by groups for the administration to review mega projects, particularly the PTMP. – June 22, 2018.