SUNGAI PETANI: Langkawi is not an ideal location for developing a Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system due to its geographical landscape and sparse population.
Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the island already boasts various transportation options alongside a robust car rental service.
"(On Monday), they made it public (the proposal for LRT system). Now, we see comments from professionals, technocrats, and academics, all giving somewhat negative views.
"With the island's location and existing population, along with e-hailing and car rental services, we need to consider all of this," he said after attending a Kedah Charter of the Council of Former Elected Representatives's (Mubarak) event here yesterday.
Also present was Mubarak president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman.
Mahdzir, who is a former Kedah menteri besar, said the state government leadership was too fond of announcing various projects but there has been no implementation.
He said such projects might only be at the study stage, similar to several other previously announced projects.
"The Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor) is known for being a an announcer (of projects).
"Maybe he wants to conduct a study. Let's see, but I don't see it, like the Kulim International Airport (KXP) project announcement, then the Sanglang port announcement, and now the LRT in Langkawi," he added.
On Monday, state-owned Permodalan Kedah Bhd (PKB) entered a pact with South Korea's Royal Eco Train Development (RETD) to study the development of a LRT system in the Kedah's tourism jewel of Langkawi.
State Industry and Investment, Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah was reported as saying that RTED would take between three to six months to study the project's technical, geography and economic impact on locals
Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between PKB, RETD and Qplex — the South Korean company's strategic partner in Malaysia — the study would also include the development of innovative stations designed within the principles of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).