The Penang state government will issue a request for proposal (RFP) by the third quarter of this year for the implementation of its Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) scheme.

State infrastructure and traffic committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state would invite experienced private companies to participate in the process.

“The state government will appoint the most suitable company to implement this component of the LRT project,” he told the state legislative assembly today when answering an oral question by A. Kumaresan (PKR – Batu Uban).

He said the state is now starting the pre-qualification process for the Bayan Lepas LRT scheme to identify qualified companies that are interested in implementing the project.

“The pre-qualification process is expected to start by the second quarter of this year while the RFP will be called by the third quarter,” he said.

He said interested companies will need to submit proposals on the technical aspects of the project along with a funding model to implement it.

“For example, the bidder will need to propose a recoupment method such as land swap, advertisement revenue and farebox revenue,” he said.

He said typically, public transport projects such as LRT would be funded by the federal government.

“Therefore, other than using the RFP process, the state is continuing to apply for funding from the federal government under the third rolling plan of the 12th Malaysian Plan,” he said.

Kumaresan then asked for contingencies in the event Putrajaya declines to finance the LRT project.

Zairil said the state will not rely fully on federal funding even though the state had consistently applied for this.

“We will continue with this project by other means possible, including through RFP,” he said.

The Bayan Lepas LRT scheme has received approvals from main technical agencies including from the Department of Environment and PLANMalaysia.

The project is now in the process of submitting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the LRT alignment in Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project including a LRT depot on Island A of PSR.

Zairil said the LRT depot is the main component for the Bayan Lepas LRT scheme.

“The Land Public Transport Agency will give its final approval to the Bayan Lepas LRT scheme after the EIA approval is obtained,” he said.

The Bayan Lepas LRT scheme is a main component of the Penang Transport Master Plan and it is a long-term plan to resolve traffic congestion issues on the island, he said.

He said a public feedback exercise held between August and November 2019 revealed that the project obtained 97.7 per cent support from 22,678 respondents.

“So, the state government is committed to implement the LRT project for the sake of the people’s future,” he said.

Source: MalayMail.com

The urban renewal project at the Padang Tembak Flats near Air Itam is expected to be finalized early next year.

State Local Government, Housing Development and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman, Jagdeep Singh Deo said the redevelopment exercise would be carried out through the Penang Affordable Housing (RMMPg) program under the Penang State Housing Board (LPNPP).

“Padang Tembak Flats is one of the site locations for the urban renewal development project planned in the Penang State Housing Board Development Planning Master Plan 2021-2025.

“Through LPNPP’s first product, RMMPg, the urban renewal project at Padang Tembak Flats is planned according to phases where the implementation of Phase 1 will involve around three blocks first.

“Among the matters given attention are the population evacuation plan, design, density as well as new facilities and amenities that need to be provided in this area to be redeveloped,” he said in the First Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 14th Penang State Assembly (DUN) near State Legislative Assembly Building, yeaterday.

At the same time, Jagdeep said, the State Government also submitted an application to the Federal Government to fund the redevelopment cost of Padang Tembak Flats through the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

“However, we have not yet received a positive decision from the Federal Government,” he said in response to a question from Kebun Bunga State Assemblyman (ADUN), Ong Khan Lee.

Commenting on the proposed redevelopment of the project through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), he said the model required a high financial commitment.

“The proposal to use this model is good, but the cross -subsidy that needs to be borne is high apart from the existing density which is already high at the site location,” he explained.

The final draft of the feasibility report for the controversial undersea tunnel will be integrated with the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) expansion master plan by the Penang Port Commission (PPC), said state exco Zairil Khir Johari.

The transport and infrastructure committee chairman, in his reply to a written question from Ong Khan Lee (PKR – Kebun Bunga) at the state legislative assembly, said the final draft was being studied by government agencies and project contractor, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC).

He said the document was presented to the state government in December 2020 after it was reviewed by an independent consultant engineer.

“The process (to study the final draft to be integrated with the NBCT expansion master plan) was from January 2021 to March 2022,” he said.

He said the feasibility report was presented to the state exco on April 6 and the state government has received the results of the report that states the undersea tunnel can be implemented.

“However, the next phase of design and construction of project is subjected to resolving issues related to the operations of the undersea tunnel alignment along with the NBCT expansion master plan which will be finalised by PPC,” he said.

He stressed that the state government has not made any decision for the feasibility report to be publicly displayed.

Source: MalayMail.com

After restoration works started at the poorly maintained storerooms of Fort Cornwallis in 2016, George Town Conservation and Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (GTCDC) revealed that the first phase of its refurbishment is now complete.

During a walkabout with Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow on its grounds yesterday, Think City board director Laurence Loh said that the only surviving intact mercenary fort in Malaysia now has a high-value proposition.

Just a stone’s throw away from the fort is a port that can accommodate six cruise ships at any one time. This amounts to an easy footfall of between 1,000 and 5,000 people.

“If we play our cards right, and when Penang Port Commission has redone the godowns, these visitors will not dissipate from the area. And so we can get half a million visitors a year.

The process of its restoration saw desk research, site and building assessments, physical investigations, archaeological works, testing and experimentation, pilot demonstrations, mock-ups and full project implementation. Consultations were made with specialists, including historians, archaeologists, conservation architects, structural engineers and master builders with expertise in traditional construction.

The ten fort storerooms have been conserved in their former state. Their bricks were reinforced with breathable concrete made and tested locally to prevent the occurrence of mould. Several parts of the original brick forms that have collapsed are preserved for public showcase.

The Penang government funded RM4.5 million while Think City funded RM1.3 million for the project.

During the excavations that happened from December 2018 to September 2019, approximately 30,000 artefacts were found in the storage rooms that were restored and also in the south moat. Among them were four cannons, bullet shells and other everyday items used by the Japanese occupiers and the British colonialists in their respective eras.

GTCDC, Think City and Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) will be looking at filling all these rooms with panels to educate visitors on its history, heritage value and artefacts found within the vicinity.

Phase 1A will proceed once the storerooms are filled with the reinstatement of the original moat. The initiative is expected to start at the end of 2022 and it is expected to complete in 2024.

According to the Technical Advisor of AKTC and Think City, Francesco Siravo, excavation will continue at both locations where the moat will be reinstated; that is on the south and the west of the fort.

“Based on the map drawn in the 19th century, the moat will be in the exact position and we are going to continue excavating slowly until we reach 1.8m deep.

The Fort Cornwallis Project is guided by three key documents including the George Town Special Area Plan, the George Town Strategic Master Plan (Public Realm Addendum), and the Fort Cornwallis Conservation Management Plan.

The initiatives are part and parcel of the wider North Seafront Improvement Programme that covers 14 projects and demonstrates the advantages of a culture-based approach toward sustainable socio-economic development of George Town’s valuable heritage and environmental assets.

This includes the seawall featuring a two-tiered walkway, along with a trench which would take in water from outside the seawall during high tide.

Source: TheVibes.com

The Chief Minister, Y.A.B. Tuan Chow Kon Yeow stated that the successful development of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Taman Robina Eco Park is in line with Penang Vision 2030: A family-focused green and smart state that inspires the nation.

According to him, the 3.9 acres Taman Robina Eco Park Phase 2 is fully funded by the State Government, and it is a continuation of the Phase 1 project which was developed with an area of ​​4.5 acres.

“Among the components that have been upgraded include the construction of parking lots, squares, painting of toilets, open stage and electrical works.

The Mayor of Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), Dato ’Azhar Arshad in his speech said that the park here is named as ‘eco park’ due to the green features, vehicles are no longer allowed to enter this park, the use of solar lights, preparation of bicycle paths and planting shrubs.

“In fact, other interesting features are sunset panoramas, photography angles, murals of local leaders and sandy beaches,” he explained.

Source: Buletin Mutiara