Improve public transport in Penang instead of costly sea tunnel, says BN man


GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government should focus on improving the public transportation system in the state, particularly with the construction of an LRT system, said Komtar Barisan Nasional coordinator Loh Chye Teik.

“The state should fulfil the dream of Penangites to have an LRT system around the island.

“The LRT system will also cost less than building a sea tunnel, which will bring more vehicles to the island,” he said yesterday.

Loh was commenting on the recent Penang Master Plan Study in which Halcrow Consultants director Dave Turner said a third link (the sea tunnel) was not necessary if public transportation was improved.

He also urged the state government to put up LED panels at bus stops so that passengers would know when a bus was coming and which one to take.

“Such panels have been put up in many international cities and we should do the same.

“It is currently very confusing to take a bus as passengers do not know how long they have to wait or which bus to take,” he added.

Weren't there some DAP fanatics who claimed DAP were prudent? There you go. Should have gone with an LRT system, but decides to go for under sea tunnel.

Wasn't it the federal government under BN that canceled the Penang LRT proposal after they lost the state in the first place?

Wasn't it the federal government under BN that canceled the Penang LRT proposal after they lost the state in the first place?

Wrong. The federal government canceled the Penang Monorail proposal. They didn't cancel it because they lost the state. BN isn't that petty you see. The federal government back then wanted to focus on the KTM project. 

Wrong. The federal government canceled the Penang Monorail proposal. They didn't cancel it because they lost the state. BN isn't that petty you see. The federal government back then wanted to focus on the KTM project. 

Wasn't it the federal government under BN that canceled the Penang LRT proposal after they lost the state in the first place?

Re-bidding by Other Parties

On April 2008, Melawar Industrial Group proposed to the opposition led state government an MYR 2.2 billion railway solution which operate on a single line and run on three different loops from locations like Gelugor, Farlim in Air Itam and Gurney Drive into the city. The system will feature steel structures and will run near the state's heritage buildings. In response, the state government will consider such proposal and may carry out the project by themselves instead of waiting for the federal government.[5]

[edit] Post-postponement

After the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which was tabled in Parliament on June 26 2008, the monorail project, along with the Penang Outer Ring Road has been postponed indefinitel

I'll have to defer to Kampung2005's knowledge in this matter.

While one may not say the reason is political, or not.....the timing of shelving monorail project is inappropriate.

If focus on KTM project, actually.....Ipoh-Padang Besar project was proposed early in 2000's, postponed by the then-PM, but only to be restarted in 9MP.

back to badawi. again

The timing? Well, it is indeed political, I admit. Let's be honest, wouldn't both sides want to look impressive? If the project had gone through, Malaysians would thank the Penang state government instead of the federal government. That would allow the opposition to benefit from "false publicity".

Anyway, the government shelved the project and revived the KTM project, as I remembered Badawi's exact words, "To focus on people's need first". Of course, Badawi was never really a good leader for the country.

Wrong. The federal government canceled the Penang Monorail proposal. They didn't cancel it because they lost the state. BN isn't that petty you see. The federal government back then wanted to focus on the KTM project. 

Ok. 
The timing? Well, it is indeed political, I admit. Let's be honest, wouldn't both sides want to look impressive? If the project had gone through, Malaysians would thank the Penang state government instead of the federal government. That would allow the opposition to benefit from "false publicity".

Anyway, the government shelved the project and revived the KTM project, as I remembered Badawi's exact words, "To focus on people's need first". Of course, Badawi was never really a good leader for the country.