The Penang government has rejected the Consumers Association of Penang's (CAP) proposal to impose charges on private vehicles entering the island, describing it as an "elitist and discriminatory view".

NONE Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng ( right ) said the state's refusal to endorse the suggestion has caused some NGOs to join the BN in opposing the RM6.3 billion traffic dispersal project , which comprises three highways and an undersea tunnel.

"This is the price we have to pay to ensure freedom of movement, because such a policy of forcing vehicles entering Penang to pay is elitist at best in reserving Penang island for residents and discriminatory at worst, as it bars those who cannot afford (to pay) from entering the island," he told a press conference today.

Yesterday, CAP president SM Mohamed Idris had urged Lim to take several short-term measures to reduce traffic congestion while working on long-term solutions.

NONE Idris ( left ), who is also president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, had criticised Lim for being “highly irresponsible and unethical” by accusing the NGO of being selective in their criticism and of being aligned to the BN.

Lim expressed disappointment at this "open personal attack" against him and Idris’ refusal to attend a dialogue on the project.

"He has failed to respond factually and objectively," said Lim.

Such dialogues had begun in 2011, said Lim, and Idris' refusal to engage has merely emphasised that CAP had issued statements relying on sentiments, which failed to contribute towards civil discourse.

He said that, despite Idris' “closed mind”, the state government's doors remain open to him for further engagement.

Lim then responded to each of CAP's proposals, emphasising the lack of cooperation from the federal government in improving the public transport system in Penang.

Avoiding a ‘traffic jam’ generation

NGOs like CAP, he said, have failed to notice the state's efforts in launching initiatives such as a free bus service in George Town, across the first bridge from Seberang Jaya to Bayan Lepas and Balik Pulau.

He pointed out that providing an efficient shuttle service to main bus stops from housing estates, as CAP suggested, ignores the fact that this should be addressed to the federal government.

public transport penang buses "We hope that CAP can address the issue of public transport to the federal government with the same energetic determination and frequency they have against the state government," Lim said.

On dedicated lanes for buses, bicycles and pedestrians, Lim said such lanes are not possible to be built along the existing congested roads, unless there are alternative ring roads around the city.

CAP was wrong to say that the Transport Masterplan does not recommend the building of the three highways and tunnel, he said, as the just-released documents do mention three highways to be completed from 2017-20 and the tunnel which is to completed between 2025 and 2030.

He accused CAP of "distorting" the present daily usage of 80,000 vehicles on the Penang Bridge to mean that traffic will increase threefold with the second Penang bridge and the tunnel.

"The introduction of new links always reduces the number of vehicles per link and not the other way round," he said.

"These new links will help to ensure that we do not turn the next generation into a traffic-jam generation.”