GEORGE TOWN: The authorities had predicted that two million vehicles would enter Penang for the Chinese New Year, causing massive traffic jams.
They were wrong. Instead, on the eve of the celebrations, the city took on an air of a “ghost town”.
Except for a few narrow streets in old sections of the city, major thoroughfares saw smooth traffic, giving locals a pleasant surprise.
It was much like Kuala Lumpur, which often sees an exodus during long holidays.
“Since a few years ago, the island has been quiet during Chinese New Year,” said sales executive Jonathan Khoo, 45, with a laugh.
“I think many people now have ‘balik kampung’ away from Penang.
He was on leave yesterday and wanted to drive to Island Glades with his wife for breakfast.
“My wife was worried but I wasn’t. I knew for sure we would have an easy drive. There was no jam and parking was easy to find.
“Many of my colleagues are on leave and had headed to Alor Setar and even Ipoh,” he said.
Housewife Lam Yee Fung, 39, said she went to Pulau Tikus market yesterday morning and felt the market had only about half the typical weekend crowd.
“Many traders and hawkers have stopped selling,” she said.
Usually choked roads like Jalan Penang, Jalan Transfer and the Esplanade saw breezy traffic, even near popular food joints.
In densely populated areas like Bandar Baru Air Itam though, there was heavy traffic near large shopping complexes.
On the mainland, however, there was heavy traffic leading to the Sungai Dua toll plaza and northwards to Kedah.
Personnel from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) were seen monitoring traffic conditions at several hotspot locations, including Chowrasta Market, Lebuh Kimberly and Lebuh Keng Kwee.
Police patrol cars and MBPP enforcement trucks intermittently sounded sirens and used loudspeakers to remind motorists not to double-park or stop on no-waiting zones.
Penang Island City Council enforcement director Noorazrein Norazlan Ong said 96 personnel from the traffic enforcement division were on duty.
He said since Ops Payung’s launch on Feb 13, the council issued 94 summonses as of yesterday.
He said 60 vehicles had their wheels clamped while 73 were towed away.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Azizee Ismail said 380 personnel from the state traffic investigation and enforcement department were on duty for Ops Selamat from Sunday to Feb 20.
“We issued 804 summonses since Ops Selamat started on Feb 15,” he said.
