Gerakan wants the state government to hold back the calling of tenders for an undersea tunnel linking the island with the mainland until the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) is approved.

The PTMP, which outlines several proposals to ease traffic congestion in the state, among them a 6.5km undersea tunnel, has been put on display from April 16 to 20 to obtain feedback from the public.

NONE State Gerakan local government bureau chairperson Teh Leong Meng said it would be "inappropriate" for the state to sign a memorandum of understanding with a company from China and to call for a tender for the third link at this juncture.

Teh ( above, holding microphone ) said the state should focus on implementing the PTMP recommendations to ease traffic congestion in Penang put forward by a group of consultants, which had cost the state RM3.2 billion.

"Why spend so much if Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng does not want to comply with the recommendations?" he asked at a press conference today.

Teh was accompanied by the party's publicity, information and communications bureau chief Dr Thor Teong Gee, legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh, state local government bureau chief A Mohan and Machang Bubok and Pulau Tikus coordinators Ooi Suan Hoe and Rowena Yam.

Seven short-term strategies

Teh was referring to the consultants appointed by the Penang administration and the Northern Corridor lmplementation Authority in May last year to develop a sustainable transport master plan strategy for the state.

The consultants have released their report, which outlines seven short-term core strategies to help overcome the increasing traffic woes of the state.

Teh said the core strategies are for a period of five to eight years (up to 2020) and that any delay in implementation would render the strategies "obsolete and useless".

The strategies, he added, could be achieved because they were affordable, within state control, non-controversial, unlikely to involve significant property acquisition and required no new legislation.

For a long-term solution, the state government could either build highways only or balance this with improving public transport - as desired by the people.

He urged the Penang government to prepare an implementation programme to set out the time frame needed to implement the various PTMP proposals.

"Don't treat the PTMP as a political gimmick to fish for votes in the coming general election. Penangites are tired of talk, talk and talk only. They want to see results," Teh added.