Another push for LRT

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A STATE assemblyman has suggested that the Penang Government offer a Request For Proposal (RFP) to the private sector to develop a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, as it can ease traffic congestion on the island.

Sim Tze Tzin (PKR—Pantai Jerejak) said if the state could call for an RFP for an estimated RM8bil worth of infrastructure projects including the 6.5km tunnel job (from Gurney Drive to Butterworth), the 4.2km Gurney Drive—Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass, and 4.6km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu—Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass, the state could also consider calling an RFP for a LRT project.

“There could be two LRT lines — from the Penang International Airport to Komtar to Tanjung Tokong spanning 26km and a second line — 6km-long from Komtar to Air Itam. A 32km MRT (mass rapid transit) project is estimated to cost RM8bil but it will cost less for the LRT,” he said when debating the Supply Bill 2012 at the state assembly sitting yesterday .

Sim also said that the state government should lead by example by implementing a minimum wage when hiring new officers as Pakatan Rakyat had proposed that a minimum wage be set at RM1,100.

Interjecting, Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (BN—Seberang Jaya) suggested that a fund be set up by the state government to carry physical restoration on rundown high-rise living units.

Sim replied that it was idealistic and might be impractical as some unit owners might have incurred debts because they had yet to settle their maintenance fees.

Also, the stipulated sum for the fund would be too high for the state government to afford, he claimed.

Arif Shah also agreed with Sim that some road repair works in Penang were done in a shoddy manner and that the relevant departments should have ensured that the proper specifications were followed.

Sim had earlier said there was a “tidak apa” (lackadaisical) attitude prevalent here, while giving examples of lack of maintenance resulting in broken drains, potholes on the road, dead grass, clogged drains and an elevator in Komtar which was not repaired for three months.