THE Penang government hopes the Federal Government will assist the state in terms of funding for the long-awaited dream of having a light rail transit (LRT).
The dream of having LRT edges closer to reality for many Penangites after the Transport Ministry had conditionally approved the Bayan Lepas-Komtar line.
As far as he is concerned, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that all the rail projects in Lembah Klang were funded by the Federal Government.
“That’s why I keep my fingers crossed that the LRT project in Penang, which is outside Lembah Klang, will also be funded by federal as well.
“Hence, we will submit our application soon to apply for the funding and hope it will be considered in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“If we get the allocation from federal, then the need to obtain loan will not arise at all,” Chow said at the sidelines of an event at the Penang Science Cluster (PSC) in Gat Lebuh Cina today.
He also said the LRT component was not a ‘small part’ of the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) project but it involved billions of ringgit.
Chow added that the land reclamation purposes were not solely on funding the project but it also meant for further development in future.
“These are the facts that need to be understood,” he stressed.
Later at a press conference in Komtar, Chow said the state executive council has agreed last week to appeal to the Federal Government to seek funds for the Bayan Lepas LRT project, and perhaps the Pan Island Link 1 project.
“The official application from the state will be submitted to the Federal Government soonest possible,” Chow said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Alvie Cheng