Penang CM hopes for ‘conditional approval’ of PTMP’s ‘major components’ soon

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pictured) would like to get “conditional approval” on major components of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) soon, he told radio station BFM in its Breakfast Grille show today.

“Hopefully, the Transport ministry will grant us conditional approval so we can work on meeting those conditions and start working on the next level.

“Unless you get conditional approval, we are unable to move into the next level of work, final designs, calculating the costs, and tendering the projects’ work components.

“We have not finalised, we are also still working out the kind of system for the LRT, whether to build it at grade, which will be cheaper or elevated,” said Chow.

*Penang CM refutes claim that Pan Island Link highway cost has escalated

He explained that even after the approvals, project consultants may take up to a year from “approval dates to work on details before they can roll out the first tender”.

The question of the cost of the mega project was also touched on during the show, with Chow saying that the state government is “mindful of the cost but our financing model is the reclamation. We feel the land generated will be sufficient to finance the infrastructure projects and also provide land for future development”.

The PTMP is estimated to cost more than RM40 billion.

“The RM40 billion price tag includes the two projects: the reclamation and the infrastructure on the islands, all in. But the final cost can’t be determined at this juncture.”

Chow also defended the mega project over attacks by civil and environmental groups.

“We are not talking about 2020 or 2021, they are long-term projects to meet the needs of the future.

“Penang Island has no more corridors for roads; if we don’t build them now to set the corridor, we won’t be able to do it when land is released for development.”