MCA urges Penang govt to explain choice of locations for LRT stations

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP-led Penang government has been urged to give a detailed explanation on the choice of locations for the Light Rail Transit stations for the Komtar to Bayan Lepas route.

State MCA secretary Tang Heap Seng questioned whether the state government planned the locations of the stations for the convenience of the people or for the profit of the project contractors.

Tang said a few stations are too close, while others are far from densely-populated areas.

“The stations’ locations should have been planned with comprehensive coordination to ensure that the people can enjoy the facility, thus reducing traffic congestion.

“However, the Penang Transport Master Plan’s (PTMP) LRT stations and routes are not comprehensive, and we fear it would be difficult for commuters.

“For example, there are three stations where the journey is only about 500m. There are also stations that are far from strategic locations,” he told reporters here today.

Present were Penang MCA organising secretary Dr Tan Chuan Hong and state Gerakan publicity bureau chief Ooi Zhi Yi.

The state government’s ambitious RM27 billion PTMP, which includes LRT, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and several highways, aims to address the state’s traffic woes.

The state government plans to fund the project through land reclamation off the southwestern coast of the island, as well as through a loan from a bank in China.