THE site for the cable car project to Penang Hill will be proposed by a local consultant if it is feasible, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Penang has been given an allocation of RM100 million by the Federal Government to build a cable car project on Penang Hill in the Budget 2020 which was announced by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on Oct 11.
“The idea of a cable car project is not new. Even with the allocation (RM100 million), we still have to go through a pre-feasibility study. The Penang Hill Corporation is going to appoint a local consultant to do the study,” Chow said in response to a reporter’s question after attending the Penang Salvation Army Open Day in Jalan Logan today.
“It is actually more than RM100 million. I think the Penang Hill Corporation applied for RM130 million. In fact, the Finance Minister said in his speech that any additional cost has to be borne by the state government.
“The study has to find the right solution, like where to begin … from Teluk Bahang or the Penang Botanic Gardens. If it is feasible, then we will proceed to get the allocation from the Federal Government to help finance the implementation of the project.”
On the reduction of toll charges beginning of next year at the Penang second bridge from RM8.50 to RM7.00, Chow said the move hopefully would help to reduce traffic congestion at the first bridge.
“Because of the different toll charges, most users prefer to use the first bridge. This causes the traffic congestion on the first bridge and industries in Bayan Lepas and Batu Kawan are appealing for the problem to be looked into.
“We hope with the new toll rates for the second bridge, some of the traffic will be diverted away from the first bridge.”
On why no allocation is given to Penang Transport Master Plan, Chow said the Budget announced was an annual Budget but the state government has applied for allocations for infrastructure projects, such as PTMP, bridge, flood mitigation and hospital, under the next Malaysia Plan.
“Infrastructure projects are very important to continue developing the state. We hope that we will get at least some portion of what we have requested under the RMK (Malaysia Plan). We need an efficient transport system.”
Chow, who issued a brief statement on his reaction to Budget 2020 yesterday, said he has yet to study Budget 2020 in detail and he believed other agencies such as Penang Public Works Department, Penang Development Corporation, Drainage and Irrigation Department and local councils, would do likewise.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Chan Kok Kuan