PENANG Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari has made it clear once again that the state’s major transport and infrastructure projects are part and parcel of the Federal Government’s intervention and responsibility.
Zairil was responding to an opinion-based report published by an English daily recently, which appeared to put the blame on the state government for the delay of moving the blocks on the proposed Bayan Lepas Light Trail Transit (BL LRT) project and its purportedly poor planning.
“In this context, the proposed LRT project to alleviate traffic congestion in Penang should actually be the responsibility of the Federal Government.
“The LRT proposal was subject to a three-month public inspection from August to November in 2019, as required under Section 84 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010.
“During the public inspection, 97% of the 23,218 Penangites and visitors stated their agreement with the proposed LRT system.
“Over the last few years, incremental progress was made. Various approvals were obtained including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project and conditional approval for the LRT rail scheme.
“Unfortunately, just before the PSR could kick off, a major setback occurred when the Department of Environment’s Appeals Board ruled to nullify the previous approved EIA.
“What made matters worse was that the grounds for the decision had nothing to do with environmental concerns but in fact a highly disputed technicality, namely that the approval for the EIA had been given before the gazetting of the PSR in the Penang Structure Plan 2030,” Zairil said in a statement that was published on his Facebook page recently.
The controversial decision, as referred to by Zairil, in which the state is challenging by way of judicial review, has resulted in the PSR project being delayed; and with it the LRT project as the reclamation was meant to be the funding mechanism for the light rail system.
In the recently held State Legislative Assembly sitting, a state assemblyman had questioned Zairil if there is any plan by the Penang government to implement the LRT project first while waiting for the PSR project to start.
Responding to this supplementary question, Zairil had said that the state government would most probably call for a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the LRT project next year.
“This is to invite interested parties to submit their proposals to design, build and operate the LRT line.
“The state government regrets the delay in the LRT project,” he said.
Zairil added that although the state government have tried their best, some things are beyond their control.
“Perhaps it is too much to ask to be treated fairly by the Federal Government, despite the importance of Penang to the national economy.
“Yet whatever the challenges, the Penang government will remain steadfast in our perseverance to see through the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) and the LRT project.
“As we have done in the past, Penang will always find a way,” he further added in the statement.
Story by Kevin Vimal