Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today questioned the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) regarding the status of the proposed Komtar-Bayan Lepas Light Railway Transit (LRT) project, which was submitted in March 2016.

Chow said that he had not received any communication from SPAD other than the two meetings he attended in Putrajaya two years ago.

“I will be meeting with Transport Minister by next Tuesday (September 18) and also receive a briefing from SPAD in Putrajaya regarding the proposed project. Hopefully, we can get an explanation from SPAD on what has happened to our submission,” he told the reporters during the press conference at Komtar today.

Earlier this month, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook during his official visit to Penang said that the proposed LRT may not be suitable for implementation based on SPAD’s findings.

The proposed LRT line, which was part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), will cover 30km and 27 stations running from Komtar to the future reclaimed islands in the south of Penang island.

Meanwhile, Chow, who is also the assemblyman for Padang Kota, said a town hall session on the proposed Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be held in Setia SPICE Convention Centre from 8pm to 10.30pm on September 20.

Chow said the town hall session will serve as a platform for the public to share their concerns on the proposed project and is in line with the administration’s principle of transparency and commitment to listen to and understand the public.

He added that the state government was committed to respond to all issues raised and these would be forwarded to the Department of Environment (DoE) as part of the public feedback process for the EIA report.

“This (town hall session) will be open and transparent stakeholders’ engagement. Whatever the people support, object to, (they are free to) highlight certain issues or concerns, suggest adjustments and so forth, these will be forwarded to DOE … We always hope that the session will be held in a peaceful manner,” he said.

He also added that those who were unable to attend the town hall session could also submit their written comments for the PIL 1 Highway EIA Report to DoE on or before Sept 25.

PTMP is a state-initiated project, costing an estimated RM46 billion, which features an undersea tunnel linking the island to the mainland, highways, LRT, monorail as well as extensive bus connectivity on both the island and the mainland.

-Bernama