Government to provide more funds for Penang LRT

Government to provide more funds for Penang LRT

The federal government recently announced that it will provide additional funds to expedite the construction of the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, Bernama reports. According to prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the previous government had not provided enough funds for the project for several years.

“I had a discussion with the minister of transport yesterday (Friday, May 5), and I will also hold a discussion with the state government in the next one or two weeks to find a suitable approach to bear the high cost of LRT construction,” he said, adding the project is expected to ease traffic congestion in the state.

“We have LRT, MRT and monorail in the Klang Valley… why can’t we introduce it to the second largest city in our country,” Anwar went on to say.

Government to provide more funds for Penang LRT

The LRT project is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) and will connect Bayan Lepas to Komtar. Prior to Anwar’s announcement, the proposed Bayan Lepas line is estimated to cost RM9.5 billion and will measure 26.8 km, serving 23 stations on the eastern side of the island from Komtar in Georgetown to Bayan Lepas, The Star reported.

The PTMP revealed in 2016 also includes a Georgetown-Butterworth LRT line connecting the island to the mainland, along with a tram system in Georgetown as well as a few monorail lines.

Transport minister Anthony Loke added that the federal government has made a decision in principle to implement the Penang LRT project. “The federal government is ready to finance this project, but the financing model and mechanism need to be discussed in detailed… whether through funds from development or off budget or the financing method through PPP (public-private partnership), we need further details,” he explained.

GALLERY: Penang Transport Master Plan

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Comments

  • newme on May 11, 2023 at 10:39 am

    Penang is looking more possible to be the next Singapore.
    nice work!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 18
    • Pulao Bagan on May 11, 2023 at 12:20 pm

      well managed controlled permissible amount of vehicles on the island to ease congestion and punctual well interconnected public transportation system

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
      • Ex Sanusi Sapoter on May 11, 2023 at 8:55 pm

        Penang the best negeri in the north. Best

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 10
      • Islander on May 14, 2023 at 9:06 am

        Penang island really should implement a policy which is everyone can access to a LRT/BRT/Monorail/tram or any kind of segregated rapid transit station in 10mins walking distance. The density and land size makes it workable.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • rayus on May 11, 2023 at 12:35 pm

      Penang is even 25years behind Bangkok…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 12
  • Why are tram, monorail and LRT needed in Penang? Wouldn’t it be better and cheaper to use one system only?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
    • hazri on May 11, 2023 at 3:06 pm

      why? because penang is “malaysia’s singapore”. small state but 2nd biggest contribution of tax to the country. tourists like to come here. if we divert all of them to come here instead of singapore, economy will grow.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 9
      • tourer on May 11, 2023 at 4:54 pm

        Tourists like to change from tram to monorail to LRT to reach their destination?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
        • travago dudes on May 12, 2023 at 11:33 am

          free and easy category tourist loves to use public transportation. Except those inside tour group tourists forced to sit inside tour agency’s large van cum bus travelling in hectic tight schedule

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
          • Civic Turbo 2018 on Aug 19, 2023 at 10:10 am

            Simply because U need to link
            Penang Mainland, Penang Island
            Both traffic conditions are different
            Peak hours for traffic also different

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • In Instanbul, there are certain places where you have to change from tram to metro train. Nothing wrong.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Onion on May 11, 2023 at 7:23 pm

      Because different places require different types of trains, steeper elevations, tighter turns, lrts are not suitable, while shorter routes with less people monorails are suitable plus certain tracks require more surface area that may not be suitable near town.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
      • router on May 12, 2023 at 10:02 am

        At least tram and LRT could be combined. There are several areas in Europe doing that (“tram-train”).

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Penang used to have trams but they dismantled it after british left in favour of diesel buses.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Civic Turbo 2018 on May 11, 2023 at 10:58 am

    Why build NEW bridge across the strait?
    Cheaper ke?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 5
    • Islander on May 14, 2023 at 9:09 am

      The reason is the current Penang bridge can’t fit in another lane for LRT after first expansion in 2012 according to the gomen. It will be even better if they can just expand another lane for LRT, save time and save cost.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Civic Turbo 2018 on May 17, 2023 at 2:20 pm

        But there is already “Sky Cab” proposed connecting Georgetown and Butterworth. Is shorter to link and is cheaper to build. Nearby there also got Ferry

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Kea Was on May 11, 2023 at 11:35 am

    Now imagine how long the previous leaders starve the state for better public transport especially when it is 2nd biggest contribution of money into the country when Klang Valley had their LRT since 1996.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 6
    • Engineer of your phone. on May 14, 2023 at 9:24 am

      20-15years bro, even the previous CM Tun LCE and secretary of city council said it. Penangites contribute every cents to the federal, ie 40% of trade surplus and 30% of exports in the national level, it is like Penang are helping the nation to grab US dollars into our country then feeding the whole nation, but yet we are starved by the Federal. Actually Penang or Malaysia can performs better and we won’t lose to Vietnam Thailand Indonesia within this 15 years if the Federal really take Penang seriously.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Rayus on May 11, 2023 at 12:41 pm

    Btw: What is this “sky cab” without any connection to anything mentioned in the map?
    They plan with trams, monorails, LRT’s and now with another system too?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Engineer of your phone. on May 14, 2023 at 9:28 am

      Actually skycab is a cable car system like Genting, proposed by a Federal GLC, they wanna connect Penang sentral of mainland to The Light LRT station on the island. However, it is literally useless in helping the public transport, better scrape it.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Alihms on May 11, 2023 at 2:05 pm

    Should extend all the way to Sungai Petani and Kulim. These areas ( Georgetown, Perai, Batu Kawan, Nibong Tebal, Sungai Petani and Kulim) are the “Klang Valley” of the northern region.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  • James on May 11, 2023 at 2:25 pm

    Pls dont use other state money just for Penang LRT

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 17
  • mr1031 on May 11, 2023 at 4:31 pm

    fuh..imagine the long term traffic jam during the construction stage…good luck penangites

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5
  • kata tak nak buat mega project dah! hmmmmmm… sama jer… all PMs want to leave a legacy lah, xyah nak klentong rakyat

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 10
    • Engineer of your phone. on May 14, 2023 at 9:42 am

      Penang LRT sudah dilulus oleh kerajaan persekutuan pada tahun 2006, tapi ditangguh atau dilupakan sampai sekarang sebab isu politik. 15 tahun bro, ini projek of need base bukan legacy. Kalau kita buat projek ini awal awal, sekarang negara kita boleh performs dengan lebih baik while we are competing with Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • DAP control penang since 2008 and no tunnel or lrt built yet. Only one mountain highway/ bypass. Plus smaller ferries. If they start now, maybe ready in 5-10 years time.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
    • Engineer of your phone. on May 14, 2023 at 9:37 am

      Public transport is under the job scope of Federal gov. The fact is the Federal didn’t do their job in the past 15years. The current minister of transport even admitted he don’t really know the current situation of Penang public transport due to no accurate info from his own ministry. Further, any project over 50millions should implement by the federal due to our tax system, Penang DAP already did more than a state gov can afford or should do while we have a missing federal gov int he past 15years.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
 

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