Beating the gun: The two visuals detailing track alignments and transit corridors on the island.

Two images known as the ‘Penang Rail Tran-sit Map’ circulating on social media have been described as visuals put together of something which has yet to be finalised.

State Traffic Management Unit chief engineer Lim Thean Heng said the superimposed images consist of a combination of loop alignments and transit corridors in Penang.

“The image tries to incorporate what has been conceptualised according to the Penang Transport Master Plan.

“It places together the loop tram alignments and the three transit corridors in the northern, southern and western direction in one map.

“Nothing is etched in stone as the Project Delivery Partner has yet to be appointed.

“It is just a visual to assist in planning. Further studies need to be done to determine the alignment or location of the stations,” he said.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Besides the less-than-enthusiastic response from residents, tourism industry players have also voiced their doubts about the proposed Penang Sky Cab project.

“I’m not too sure about this as a tourist attraction. We are told that the state wants to create attractions like homestays, bird watching and visits to fish markets on the mainland.

“But tourism has always been island-centric while Butterworth is more of an industrial and logistics hub,” said Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang chairman Khoo Boo Lim yesterday.

The 3km cable car system linking Penang island and the mainland was announced by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng last Wednesday.

Khoo said the authorities should reconsider the project, especially if it involved state funds which could be put to better use to enhance existing attractions and improve infrastructure that impacts tourism.

Association of Tourism Attractions Penang chairman Ch’ng Huck Theng said the state government should give priority to solving traffic congestion on the island.

“It will boost our image and help spread tourism revenue to Butterworth, but tourism in Penang is being affected by traffic jams,” Ch’ng said.

Penang Tourist Guides Association president Chin Poh Chin felt that the cable car system would spark the interest of locals only at the initial stage.

“Everyone would want to try it once. But foreigners will not be interested. Cable cars are nothing new to them,” she said.

She said foreign tourists – backpackers or those on guided group tours – love the ferry because it was iconic to Penang.

She urged the state government to expedite the plan to set up a cable car system from Penang Hill to Teluk Bahang instead.

It is learnt that the Penang Hill-Teluk Bahang cable car was initially mooted but difficulties arose with the choice of location for the Teluk Bahang station.

Lim, however, was unperturbed by the criticism.

“The Penang Sky Cab is not to replace the MRT or LRT. It is a bonus,” he told a press conference yesterday.

He said the cable car could be completed in 2018 while the MRT and LRT could take up to Year 2030.

Penang Consumer Protection Association president K. Koris Atan said he supported Penang Sky Cab as an alternative transportation mode.

Source: TheStar.com.my

The proposed RM300 million Penang Sky Cab project linking the island and the mainland will be cancelled if the public objects to it, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said in implementing the project, the state would take into account the views and feedback from the public.

“We will also not carry on with the project if it fails the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), ” he said in a press conference at the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) office in Bandar Perda today.

This comes after Lim had reportedly announced the proposal, saying the project would offer public transportation alternatives to Penangites.

The cable cars expected to be completed by 2018 will take about 15 minutes to link Penang Sentral in Butterworth to Nordin Street Ghaut on the island.

Lim said the project which is still in the proposal stage will not affect the sea and the environment as only nine towers will be built in the sea, adding that the state aims to provide more transportation options for the people.

“It helps connectivity between the island and mainland and will also boost tourism,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lim also said the state government will allocate RM12 million to upgrade and renovate the Seberang Jaya wet market and hawker complex.

He said the cost to renovate the 4.5 acres market will be undertaken by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).

Work on the project is expected to start at the end of this year and is scheduled to be completed in two years.

In another development, Lim also praised MPSP for making it into the Malaysia Book of Records as the first council to receive five quality management system certificates.

MPSP president Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the council was listed on April 13.

Source: TheSunDaily.my

Eco World Development Group Bhd is acquiring 299.64 acres of leasehold land in Batu Kawan, Penang, for RM730.93mil to build residential and commercial properties.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Eco World confirmed that it had received a letter of award from the Penang Development Corp (PDC) about its proposal to undertake the projects.

The developer said it was also leasing about 150 acres for 30 years, with an option to renew for another 30 years, for an estimated lease consideration of RM65.34mil.

Eco World said the 150 acres would be developed into an international standard golf course with a minimum of 18 holes and a club house.

“The development parcel and the lease parcel exclude a total area of 20.36 acres identified by PDC for other purposes. The estimated total consideration for the land parcels is approximately RM796.3mil,” it clarified following news reports about the land deal in Penang.

StarBiz had earlier reported that Eco World was the only bidder for the land and would sign the sale and purchase agreement with PDC at a later date to be attended by Eco World chairman Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin.

The purchase of the land will be the second parcel in Batu Kawan for Eco World. It already owns 24.28ha in the area on which it plans to launch a RM920mil mixed development called EcoMeadows, comprising 50% residential and 50% commercial components, in the second half of the year.

Eco World said its board was reviewing the detailed terms of the letter of award and that further details on the proposed Eco Marina development would be announced after it had accepted the letter.

Source: TheStar.com.my

A light rail transit (LRT) project has yet to be approved in Penang as the state government is still evaluating the six packages submitted by bidders for the Penang Master Transport Plan, a state executive councillor said today.

Local government and traffic management committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow refuted local daily The Star’s report today that quoted anonymous sources as saying construction of a 17.5km elevated LRT project is slotted to start next year.

“The newspaper quoted “reliable sources” which is not so reliable because we have not awarded the Master Transport Plan project to any bidder yet,” Chow said in a press conference today.

The Penang Transport Master Plan is a massive RM27 billion comprehensive plan designed to resolve traffic congestion woes on the island.

The plan includes suggestions for a more comprehensive public transportation system that includes the LRT, public buses, trams, the undersea tunnel connecting the island to the mainland and expansion of major road.

Chow said all the bidders have proposed different transportation system packages, some with a combination of LRT, trams and buses.

“We can’t give out any details for this yet because we have not shortlisted the bidder so it could be any of the proposed packages,” he said.

The Request for Proposal for the massive project closed on February 16 and the state is still studying the proposals by six bidders.

“We have four months to evaluate the proposals, to go through the financial and technical aspects, before awarding the project,” he said.

The earliest date the state could expect to shortlist the bidders will be in early May for a second round of evaluations.

Chow said it could take Penang up to seven months to award the project to the successful bidder from the closing date.

He also refuted The Star report that claimed the successful bidder will get to reclaim about 566ha of land in Seberang Prai.

“This is mere speculation by the newspaper because we have not made any decisions on the project,” he said.

Source: TheMalayMailOnline.com