Chow: More than 17,000 people engaged in transport masterplan

Chow: ‘This is likely to be the largest number of sessions held in the country’.

GEORGE TOWN: The state government has reached out to nearly 17,000 people through public engagement sessions to explain details on the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

These were conducted through 965 sessions since 2015, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

“This is likely to be the largest number of sessions held in the country,’’ he told a press conference yesterday.

He said the briefing and engagement sessions were mostly held with residents, businesses and fishermen affected by the master plan.

“Many focus groups, public feedback, interviews and survey sessions were also held during the three-year period. We will continue with all these,” he pledged.

Chow was commenting on complaints by several NGOs that the state had not held public consultation forums or dialogues on PTMP.

He explained that although it was not mandatory, the state government held a public exhibition on the PTMP for six weeks last year.

“When we receive a letter from residents or groups expressing concern, we immediately engage them by sending a team over to get a better picture.

“At the rate we are going, we are likely to reach 1,000 sessions very soon,” he said.

He said the PTMP remained only a proposal, and would not take off until given the nod by the federal government.

Chow also said that if the Pan Island Link (PIL) I highway project was approved, work would first begin at the Bukit Gedung section in Bayan Lepas.

This would relieve traffic jams in the Sungai Ara, Bayan Baru, Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone areas, he added.

“A townhall meeting on the PIL I is scheduled in September as the Department of Environment requires it.

“There will also be a townhall on the Penang South Reclamation project pending official notification from the department,’’ he added.

Chow clarified that the RM46bil price tag on the project was only an estimate.