Penang CM, Y.A.B. Mr. Chow Kon Yeow said the Ministry of Transport and SPAD has agreed with the State Government’s proposal to build the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system from George Town to Bayan Lepas.

He said the agreement was reached at a meeting with Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and SPAD’s representative on Sept 18 in Putrajaya.

“It was a fruitful meeting. We (the State Government) can now take another step forward as the LRT proposal has been accepted by the Minister and SPAD.

“At the meeting, the State Government also pointed out that the LRT system is more suitable for Penang than the tram as proposed by SPAD recently,” he told a media conference after attending a ceremony near the Millennium Hall this morning.

The explanation arose following the earlier statement by Transport Minister who reportedly said that the LRT system might not be an ideal choice for Penang, based on SPAD’s research results.

However, Kon Yeow said there are still technical issues to be addressed such as the depot, which will serve as the final station for the LRT project

The initial location for the depot was the reclaimed coastal area of Permatang Damar Laut, but SPAD later proposed it be moved inland just after the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, as reclamation work has yet to start.

Chow said a final report on the planned changes will be submitted soon.

Source: Buletin Utama (Malay version)

You are cordially invited to Runnymede’s Mid-Autumn Festival Soiree on 29 September 2018 from 12pm to 6pm at the Runnymede Gallery. Triuni Residences – Tower B will be open for official registration on the same day. Workshops, children activities and light refreshments will be available.

R.S.V.P
04-659 8899 / 019-415 5881 / 019-457 6063
groupsales@runnymede.com.my

Townhall session on PIL1 highway, with Penang CM & YB Yeo Bee Yin

The federal minister in charge of the environment says she will take the middle path in deciding whether a controversial highway project in Penang will be approved.

Speaking at a town hall meeting on the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway here yesterday, Yeo Bee Yin said the government’s final decision on the matter might please neither the supporters nor the opponents of the project.

Calling the issue “a grey area”, she acknowledged that a solution should be found which compromised between development and the environment.

“The prime minister has always said that the best decision is made when no one is happy with it, because when one group is happy with the decision, the other group has to make a sacrifice.

“The decision that the government and the Department of Environment is about to make – all of you will not be happy.

“But hopefully, it will be a middle road between development and the environment, and those who want a traffic solution versus those who think the other way is better. Ultimately, we want a better Penang for the future generations,” she said.

She also assured the audience that no one in the state government had a personal interest in the decision on the proposed highway.

“None of them (in the government) is pocketing any money,” she added.

The town hall session, organised by the Penang government at the Setia Spice Convention Centre in Bayan Lepas, was attended by over 800 people.

It was moderated by state exco member Zairil Khir Johari.

An environmental consultant who had prepared a report on the project briefed the audience on the technical aspects of the highway.

The Penang Forum, led by Lim Mah Hui and Kam Suan Pheng, then addressed the audience for about 15 minutes.

This was followed by a question and answer session which lasted over two hours, with some 30 people waiting in line to voice their concerns over the project.

The majority were against the PIL 1 project due to concerns over traffic and the environment. Others supported it, saying the project would cut travel time and allow them to spend more time at home.

At the end of the session, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said all concerns raised would be addressed over the next few months.

He said a more detailed study would take place if the federal government approves the project, taking into account the concerns of civil society groups.

Source: FMT News

Penang is confident that it will achieve its 14th General Election pledge to build 75,000 affordable homes in the state by 2022.

State Housing, Town, Country Planning and Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said to date, the total number of units built and those in progress have surpassed the target.

“The state had pledged to build 75,000 units of affordable homes in Penang, and we have surpassed the number.

“So far, 28,915 units of low-cost, low medium-cost and various types of affordable housing have been built in Penang since 2008.

“This brings the grand total to over 80,000 units to date,” he said during a press conference in Jen Hotel, Penang recently.

Earlier, Jagdeep also announced the upcoming Penang Property Summit 2019, which will be held for the fifth consecutive year.

Organised by the Penang State Housing Committee in collaboration with Penevents Sdn Bhd, the event on Jan 5 and 6 next year will be held at Setia SPICE Arena.

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin will be present to speak on the property industry during the event, which will also see other activities such as seminars and public talks.

Source: TheStar.com.my