Federal funds for PTMP may take five years, says Penang CM

INTERVIEW | Penang's application for RM10 billion in federal funds to cover the initial costs of its ambitious transport master plan (PTMP) may take five years to be approved, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

In a recent interview, Chow said the RM10 billion, which is necessary for two projects under the PTMP – the Bayan Lepas-Komtar light rail transit (LRT) and Pan-Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway – may be incorporated into the next Malaysian plan.

Chow has yet to receive any response from Putrajaya, although he wrote to the Prime Minister's Office earlier this month, and copied it to the Finance Ministry and Economic Affairs Ministry.

"I so wish they can respond and give us an answer in the positive, but as you know, this is a long and tedious process. They might include it in the five-year plans," he told Malaysiakini.

"As the name suggests, it may take five years, so hopefully, it will be incorporated into the 12th Malaysian Plan (RMK12)," Chow added.

However, Chow remains confident of obtaining the funds, as Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali had placed the project on the agenda when discussing the RMK12 framework during a meeting with the Penang government on Aug 2.

If Penang manages to obtain federal funding from Putrajaya to pay for the PTMP, he said the state would consider scaling down the south reclamation project (PSR), which involves the creation of three artificial islands covering 1,821ha.

Competition endorsed

Meanwhile, the chief minister confirmed that a master plan competition, announced by SRS Consortium for the development of the three man-made islands under PSR, was endorsed by Penang.

SRS Consortium – which comprises Gamuda Berhad (60 percent), Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd (20 percent) and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd (20 percent) – was appointed as the state's PTMP delivery partner on August 2015.

"There may have been some misunderstanding. The competition is endorsed by the Penang government. SRS Consortium is doing it on behalf of the state," he said.

"When SRS Consortium announced the competition, it may have given the impression that they had decided on it, but this is not the case. The idea was presented to the state executive council and we had endorsed it."

Chow was asked to explain why there was such a competition when he was earlier willing to scale down the islands in view of possible federal funding.

An Aug 8 Bernama report had quoted SRS Consortium project director Szeto Wai Loong as saying the company would finalise details for the competition with the Penang government.

But Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Sim Tze Tzin dismissed the matter, saying the state would eventually decide on the outcome of the islands.

Sim, the Bayan Baru MP, shared the views of fisherfolk and civil society who urged the state to seek alternative funding for the PTMP.

Chow reiterated that the land reclaimed belongs to the state, and the SRS Consortium competition was supposed to obtain the best value plan for the three islands.

He said when the plan was submitted to the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC), there was a concept paper on how the islands should be developed.

"That is why, at the meeting with the NPPC, we were able to say how we plan to use the land (islands), which will be created in stages.

"The last island (third) may take 15 to 20 years to complete. The competition will give us a better idea on how to phase things out, as the islands will not be created overnight," he explained.

Asked about PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's request to scale down the project if Penang obtains federal funding, Chow said "Yes, we are committed to that."

Last month, Anwar saw Chow after meeting with groups who opposed the reclamation, and said the latter was open to discussing the size of the project.

 - Mkini