PCM has big plans for Penang

Parti Cinta Malaysia wants to improve the quality of life on the island if it helms the state government.

GEORGE TOWN: Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) has identified public transport, healthcare, housing and environment as key areas to implement a sustainable development plan in Penang.

Party executive secretary Melvin Chin said if elected as the next state government, PCM would improve these key areas.

He said Penang faced greater challenges now due to the growing population and limited resources, adding that sustainable development policy holds the key to its future.

“It’s time for Penang to adopt pragmatic, compassionate and multidimensional development policies,” he said in a statement here.

In view of the current problems, he said affirmative policies were needed to tackle housing problems and the rising cost of living.

He said these two major issues have affected a large number of youths in the middle and lower income groups.

“Inflation has adversely affected the purchasing power of the younger generation,” he said.

Pointing to the worsening traffic congestion, especially on the island, he said the state urgently needed a monorail or a light rail transit (LRT) system integrated with the bus service.

He also suggested that public and private health sectors form a viable partnership to provide affordable healthcare to all Penangites.

Painful truth

He noted that Penang has now become famous for its mushrooming high-cost private hospitals, which are beyond the reach of the public.

As a result, he said the public sector had to shoulder a heavy burden to provide affordable and quality health service to Penangites, especially those in the lower and middle-income bracket.

“This is the painful truth,” said Chin.

He proposed that Penang Hospital build a new medical complex on a nearby land now occupied by the Prison Department.

He said the prison can be shifted to the mainland.

With the new complex, he said specialists and consultants can offer private medical services without having to leave government service.

“We would still be able to retain some of the best and the brightest in the government sector,” he said.

On housing and environment, he said proper planning must be made before decisions are made.

PCM is expected to incorporate all these major issues in its general election manifesto.

“We hope Penangites will vote wisely based on issues and for candidates who can deliver,” said Chin.