A group of NGOs called Penang Forum have launched their own version of the transport master plan in response to the state government's RM27 billion mega-project.

The state mega-project, which is to be delivered by SRS (South Reclamation Scheme), involves 4,100 acres of reclamation works and three artificial islands in the southern post of the island.

After months of criticising the project, Penang Forum launched a 50-page report and website and called their report  'The Better, Cheaper and Faster Transport Master Plan' (BCF TMP) as opposed to the state's "big bang approach".

They also promoted a petition urging Penangites to vote for the NGOs alternative BCF TMP.

Penang Forum spokesperson Shahrom Ahmat (photo, left) said the NGOs are all for a sustainable transport master plan.

Shahrom recalled that in 2011, the Penang government collaborated with NGOs and produced the Halcrow Report, which focused on shifting private cars to public transport.

"We had then applauded the state for this initiative but currently the approach of moving cars instead of people seems to be overtaken by other considerations.

"The state then came up with the big bang approach and the cost of their TMP is about RM27 billion and may increase to RM46 billion. This figure does not take into account inflation rates," Shahrom said.

"However, Penang Forum has reservations, questions and concerns about the implications of the TMP for the future. But when we kept on asking questions and raising concerns, we are accused of just talking and being trouble makers.

"So we came up with an alternative transport master plan, it is better, cheaper, faster and sticks to the principles of moving people instead of cars," Shahrom added.

Accompanying Shahrom were Penang Island Municipal Councillor Lim Mah Hui, social activists Anil Netto and Khoo Salma Nasution.

Financial deficits

Lim (photo) said the alternative plan may cost only RM15.3 billion, or one-third of the SRS Consortium's projected cost of RM46 billion.

He claimed the cost of the state's transport master plan has increased to RM46 billion from the RM27 billion earlier projected.

"If we add up the annual operating costs of all the other proposed monorails, LRT, tram, buses and highways, we could be staring at several hundred million ringgit of financial deficits for the state," said Lim.

"The question is what are the short-term and long-term financial implications of this big bang approach for Penang?"

Lim said the NGOs propose a "holistic-incremental approach" to the Transport Master Plan based on five principles.

These include cutting your shirt according to your cloth; adopting a sustainable financial model; a one-step-at-a-time incremental approach; prioritising public transport and evidence-based policy and far sighted leadership.

Also present were assemblymen Cheah Kah Peng (PKR-Kebun Bunga), Lee Khai Loon (PKR-Machang Bubok) and T Jayabalan (PKR-Batu Uban) who created waves after abstaining from voting down a motion on reclamation by Umno in a November 2015 state legislative assembly sitting.