Reports on the Penang Transport Master Plan (TMP) by SRS Consortium will be made public, said state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow.

Chow said the state government accepts the proposal by social activist Lim Mah Hui to make available the reports which are prepared by SRS, its project delivery partner.

He admitted that the state faces many concerns related to its reclamation funding model and the huge capital expenditure to build the proposed public transport component projects.

He added that the state was also aware of the resultant long-term financial implications during operations and maintenance to ensure sustainability of the project.

“These are challenging issues for the state government to address and be prepared for,” Chow said in a statement issued at the Penang state legislative assembly today.

Chow said two independent consultants - KPMG and the USM Transport Team - had been appointed to provide peer review of SRS proposals and to advise the state.

KPMG will take on economic, financial and business aspects while the USM team will review the technical issues, Chow noted.

“This is an addition to any valuable feedback and contribution we may receive from civil society members who are well-versed with such issues,” Chow said.

“We will organise round-table and town hall meetings as and when necessary for the friendly exchange of views (regarding the) best options to be adopted,” he added.

Chow said that even though it had never been conventional practice, the state fully intends to engage civil society for their feedback to try and ensure the adopted TMP was in line the national aspiration for a 40 percent public transport mode share.

Chow was responding to Mah Hui who said in a letter to the editor: “For the consultation to be truly genuine, the first and foremost condition is for the Penang government to release in full the report done by the SRS on the PTMP.

“So far it has only provided very selective and superficial parts of the study to the public in public forums and on its website.”

Mah Hui said the public cannot be expected to give proper feedback when they are “partially blindfolded.”

“This is not acceptable for a state that professes to practise competence, accountability and transparency (CAT),” he quipped.

“If the state has nothing to hide, as it claims, it must answer satisfactorily why the full report is not shared with the public. Which parts are confidential and why?” Mah Hui asked.

“The state cannot hide behind legal excuses and the limitations in the freedom of information curtain for not releasing the report. We have wasted six months of precious time since the report was given to the state in November 2015,” he added.