I wrote about this earlier. Yes, I support the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP). PTMP: Reclamation alone is RM7 – RM8 billion Do it transparently and minimise as much as possible the effects to the environment and the affected parties. The business community in Penang supports this RM27 billion saying that it would ease the growing traffic congestion on the island part of the state. Read here: What’s up Penang? Jam has worsened. According to the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Penang chairman Datuk Dr Ooi Eng Hock, their members welcome the light rail transit (LRT) and the Pan Island Link (PIL) Highway in the PTMP because this would reduce their transportation cost.
Besides the cost, it would also help to reduce the number of cars on the roads because FMM (Penang)’s members alone has an estimated 165,000 factory workers who travel to work in Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) daily using vans and buses. This is expected to increase because 15 out of 100 FMM Penang members in Bayan Lepas are planning to grow their operations.
According to the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) Penang chairman Datuk Jerry Chan, PTMP should proceed because it is an integrated, comprehensive and workable plan. He suggested that the PDP and state government to help the fishermen who will be affected to go into fish farming instead. I think if this is doable, it’s a better future compared to the dwindling fish population all over the world. With more population, just relying on fishing is definitely no longer sufficient. He said that the project benefits the larger public and there is little choice for the state government. Datuk Jerry Chan also said something I agree wholeheartedly. Bayan Lepas airport must be upgraded or a new airport is built. Read here: Penang international sirport expansion and full capacity in 2017?
Penang needs a better transportation masterplan. Period. It’s an island smaller than even Singapore and due to the popularity of the island, the jams have worsened and the slower the state government reacts, the worse it would be. I am not sure if any of the expatriates from the multi-nationals love to be jammed everyday to and from work and even during the weekends should they decide to visit the UNESCO Heritage Georgetown. In fact if they are on a evaluation mission comparing Penang to some other sites and their trip from the Bayan Lepas airport to the potential manufacturing site takes 2 hours, do we seriously still think they are coming? Happy visiting Penang.
written on 22 Dec 2015
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