The public would now be able to offer their views about the RM27 billion Transport Master Plan in three separate sessions planned for January.

State executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said the three sessions to be held this month include a special session for opposition members of Parliament and state assemblypersons on Jan 11, at 9.30am in Komtar.

The second session, to be held on Jan 11, at 8pm at the Penang Chinese Town Hall along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling for the public, will be conducted in Mandarin, he added.

“There will also be a special session for fisherfolk on Jan 18 at 3pm at a venue to be decided later.

“These briefing sessions are in line with the Penang government’s guarantee to explain the project to all levels of society.

“We also welcome any association or NGO who wish to have the briefing session conducted in their premises; they can apply to us,” Chow ( photo ) said.

Chow, who is also Padang Kota assemblyperson and state DAP chief, oversees the local government, traffic management and flood mitigation portfolio in the state government.

Accompanying him at the press conference were Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Deputy Chief Ministers Rashid Hasnon and P Ramasamy, and other state executive councillors.

The Transport Master Plan has been criticised strongly for affecting the livelihood of fisherfolk and the local community as it involves the reclamation of about 4,100 acres in the island’s southern post of Batu Maung and Bayan Lepas.

It became a hot topic in Penang after the state opposition (Umno) filed a motion in the state legislative assembly to seek for more transparency and accountability in reclamation projects.

However, Lim has defended the project, saying it would help address the island’s massive traffic woes and improve connectivity in the island and mainland via five transport systems which include three major highways, public buses, light railway tracks, monorails, trams and water taxis.

Criticised for not consulting Penangites prior to proposing the plan, a public consultation , jointly organised by the Penang government with the Project Delivery Partner SRS Consortium, on the Transport Master Plan in English, was held on Dec 6 at the City Hall.

Chow said in December last year, the state government had successfully conducted three similar sessions, for MPs and assemblypersons from Pakatan Harapan and professional bodies, business community and NGOs on Dec 4.

A session for the public in the Malay language was also conducted on Dec 6, he added.

“These briefing sessions are organised by the state government via the Strategic Communications Committee which is one of the committees formed by the state to ensure that the Transport Master Plan is implemented in a proper and efficient manner,” Chow said.