LETTER | I’m writing this in response to a remark made by Penang state executive councillor for transport Zairil Khir Johari on Sept 4.

According to Free Malaysia Today, Zairil defended the Penang government’s focus on large-scale infrastructure projects, arguing they are essential to address chronic traffic congestion.

“It’s easy to say let’s have more buses, but unless these buses are flying, they need to use the same roads as well,” he was reported as saying.

The response by Zairil is typical of a politician. He evades the issue, coins a flippant sound bite and creates a digression by attacking another critic, former economist Lim Mah Hui.

The major questions he has avoided are: how can this expensive project be economically sustained, given our small population base?

Where will the ridership come from? Why is he ignoring the experience of the Klang Valley?

He also has not explained how the LRT and the tunnel will improve traffic on the first bridge, Ayer Itam, Jalan Masjid Negeri and Jalan Gottlieb, to name a few.

Self-made problem

Zairil does not seem to realise that the traffic mess we face today is a direct result of unplanned, developer-driven mega projects that this government has allowed for 17 years.

One part of the government recklessly approves major traffic-generating, high-density projects, while another laments how severe the traffic problem is. The contradiction is almost absurd and would be laughable if it were not so serious.

Experience elsewhere clearly shows that traffic issues must be tackled holistically as part of overall development planning; matters such as car parks, walkways and first- and last-mile connectivity must be considered. There is no evidence that these issues have been factored in.

Given the government’s failure to tackle basic problems such as illegal parking and making pavements and five-foot ways walkable, it is doubtful whether it has the will or the capacity to do so.

By doggedly clinging to the LRT, isn’t Zairil trying to solve today’s problems with last century’s solutions? Why are recent technological developments not being considered?

Why are cheaper, more flexible autonomous bus systems being dismissed out of hand? Is it because they “don’t fly”?

Dedicated bus lanes will cause disruption initially, but it will be no worse than the disruption caused by LRT and tunnel construction.

Autonomous taxis, when fully developed, will also be a game changer for urban mobility. They are being trialled in many major cities and will likely be common in Penang before the LRT is ready.

Isn’t there a danger that the LRT will be obsolete even before it is completed?

No, the LRT will not solve our traffic woes. Instead, it will be an expensive millstone around the necks of future generations.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.