Three proposed man-made isles to be included, says Chow

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Structure Plan, which is out-dated, needs to be revised to incorporate the three proposed man-made islands off the south coast near Permatang Damar Laut meant to fund the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said a special task force would adopt a master plan to guide the development of the new islands set to have a population of 300,000.

The task force includes the Town Planning and Develop-ment Department.

“The master plan will guide the development of the three islands measuring 1,821ha for commercial, residential, industrial, institutional and open space usage.

“In May, this plan will then be submitted to the state planning committee for it to be adopted into the Penang Structure Plan.

“In June or July, the proposal for the three islands will be submitted to the National Physical Planning Council for consideration.

“Following the changes, the Penang Structure Plan will need to be revised.

“The local plan will also need to be based on the revised plan,” he said.

Chow told reporters after a dialogue session with the Malaysian Dutch Business Council attended by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

On the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT), Chow said the conditional approval for the project was expected to be given in June.

“The final approval should be given early next year.

“More than RM20bil worth of jobs can be expected to be tendered out to contractors following the implementation of PTMP,” he said.

To a question on waste management for the islands, Chow said the issue would be tackled.

“The islands will be designed with new technologies to handle the problem,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Lim said a global property consultant had recently voted Penang as the preferred destination for investment in the country.

“Even without a proper transportation system, Penang can still be the choice location of investment.

“Imagine what Penang can do with an integrated transportation system,” he said.

The RM27bil PTMP is aimed at building a public transport system based on a five-in-one mode — taxi, bus, water taxi/ferry, cable car and LRT/monorail.