GEORGE TOWN: The state’s ambitious RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) continues to generate controversy with the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) telling the state government not to sign the new Project Delivery Partner (PDP) agreement with SRS Consortium.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the call is being made because the PTMP is heavily contentious and criticised by many civil society organisations (CSOs) due to its adverse environmental and socio-economic impact.
SRS Consortium is a 60:20:20 joint venture among Gamuda, Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd.
When SRS Consortium first signed a PDP agreement with the Penang government in 2015, its role was to help the state government implement the PTMP.
The Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project was mooted by SRS Consortium to create a land bank to fund the multi-billion ringgit PTMP.
Last week, Gamuda group managing director Datuk Lin Yun Ling said that once the new PDP agreement is signed, the design works could start.
“The light rail transit (LRT), Island A, the Pan Island Link and reclamation work for South Island will all move,” he said.
Mohideen observed that the state government has in recent years expanded the project scope of the PTMP – and thus, in formalising the latest plans, it would need to sign a new agreement with SRS Consortium.
“Penang Forum and several academicians had pointed out to the Penang government that a cheaper, better, viable option for the PTMP is available. This option does not necessitate building new roads or the LRT scheme.
“The alternative PTMP proposed by CSOs incorporates a good network of ART (autonomous rail rapid transit) and BRT (bus rapid transit) systems supported by feeder systems to address first and last-mile connectivity.
“CAP had written to the Chief Minister to seriously consider the option. However, the state is yet to respond to why it is selecting a more expensive, potentially-destructive option when a cheaper, better, faster-to-implement alternative exists.
“The state is not considering the views of the public, the fishing communities and the CSOs objecting to the PSR project. We also raised our objections during the public hearing of the draft Penang Structure Plan (RSNPP) 2030, which includes the Penang South Islands project, other reclamation projects and the new highways.
“It is indeed very disappointing that CAP’s and many other groups’ objections were not taken into account and the state went on to gazette the RSNPP 2030 on Oct 24,” he said today.
Mohideen said the state government also needs to consider that a case has been filed to contend the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment report of the PSR-Rev 2.
He said the Penang government should be going on an austerity drive by reviewing the PTMP project to cut costs and consider alternatives, besides scrapping all proposed reclamation, luxury and mega projects.
“Do not forsake Penang’s environment and people, in pursuit of development proposed by developers, whose main concern is profits,” he stressed.
The RSNPP 2030, which was gazetted in October this year, includes the highly controversial PSR project.