THERE will be no cancelling of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) by the state government, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

He said Penang will proceed with the comprehensive and integrated plan commissioned by the state government to alleviate its worsening traffic congestion with highways, roads and public transport.

“For us, we will proceed with it, unless it is rejected (by the federal government),” he told a press conference in Komtar today.

He said the letter of award to PTMP project delivery partner SRS Consortium stated that work on the components of the master plan would only begin with approval from the federal government.

“If there are no approvals, then everything will be cancelled,” Chow said.

The Tanjong MP said although there are no plans to cancel anything, the state is not above making adjustments and fine-tuning the plans.

Chow said PTMP is crucial for Penang as it will address key threats to the state’s sustainable growth.

According to Chow, Penang also lacked a reliable public transport infrastructure with a long-term vision to achieve the targeted public transport mode share of 40%.

There has been a lot of objections against PTMP by civil society groups, especially the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) highway and LRT (light rail transit) components.

The PIL1 EIA (environmental impact assessment) report was recently displayed for public viewing. The public has until September 24 to give their feedback on the proposed 19.5km highway with six lanes from Persiaran Gurney to the second Penang Bridge.

Chow said the state government welcomed the people to tell the authorities what they think of the alignment so that the necessary adjustments – even the removal of proposed interchanges – could be made to improve the proposed highway.

Some proposed interchanges for PIL1 can impact existing residential communities. The one in Paya Terubong will affect 11 houses and 29 commercial units.

“Upon federal approval, the state government plans to build the most critical section of PIL1, which is the last part from Bukit Gedung to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway interchange,” Chow said.

“This stretch will allow people from Sungai Ara to use the interchange and reach the Bayan Lepas free trade zone directly.

“This will have a major positive impact as it relieves the traffic congestion faced by people living and working in Sungai Ara, Relau, Bayan Baru and the Bayan Lepas free trade zone.”

On the LRT that connects Komtar in George Town with the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, Chow said engagements with federal authorities were underway for the railway scheme, EIA and heritage impact assessment (HIA).

He said the heritage department has no issues with plans to site the LRT station in Sia Boey, which is just outside the heritage zone.

Meanwhile, on the Penang South Reclamation (PSR), the funding model of the PTMP, Chow said the hydraulic and marine traffic risk assessment studies had been approved.

“We are now working with the federal agencies on the environmental, fisheries, social and traffic impact assessments.

“We will also hold a public town hall session on the PSR, pending official notification from the Environmental Department. We will announce the details soon,” he said.

PSR involves the reclamation of three manmade islands off the southern coast of Penang island. The land, which will also give Penang additional land for future development like housing, will be auctioned off to finance the PTMP.

Although the state government recently asked Putrajaya for a RM1 billion soft loan, Chow said the state would stick to the PSR financing model for PTMP.

“The idea of asking a bridging loan from the federal government came after the government changed. SRS was thinking it might be better to get an interest-free grant from the federal government.

“But we will stick to the original funding model. If we have to implement the PIL1 and LRT projects at the same time, then we might require the bridging fund that SRS had asked from a consortium of banks.

“But we still have not obtained approvals for the projects. How can we talk of getting loans now?

“SRS must secure the federal approvals for the transport projects at its own cost before we enter any agreement and talk about costs,” he said.

SRS is also undertaking the ambitious PSR. – August 23, 2018.