Look beyond roads to ease Penang’s jam

THE twin combination of the durian season and school holidays are seeing holidaymakers flocking to Penang.

According to the Malaysian Association of Hotels, most hotels on the island are at least 85% full during this period. It is a welcome boost to the local economy as restaurants, eateries and tourist attractions like the famous funicular train in Penang Hill see a boost in visitors.

But not everyone is jumping for joy over the influx of holidaymakers and tourists. Locals on the island have had to put up with the lack of parking and traffic congestion for some time now.

On normal days, Penangites must contend with only peak hour traffic, but this is exacerbated during long weekends and holidays when outstation visitors descend on the island.

Penang is rightfully famous for its vibrant street food scene. But it is also known for its natural beauty with beaches and hiking trails. The Unesco-listed George Town has diverse cultural heritage and historical architecture.

These are among the reasons why the island is many people’s favourite domestic holiday destination.

But the constant gridlock, especially in George Town is changing perceptions.

A close friend from Kuala Lumpur had earlier intended to take his family up North but changed his plans at the last minute because of the anticipated traffic congestion in Penang.

“My last trip was no fun, we stayed in Tanjung Bungah, and it took us almost an hour each way to get into the city and back,” he said, adding that he had changed his holiday trip to Ipoh instead.

This is a shame, because just like my friend, I must confess that I love Penang – the food and the island vibes – but the insane traffic makes me think twice about visiting more.

In October last year, during the tabling of Budget 2025, several projects in Penang were announced, including the Juru—Sungai Dua Elevated Highway, Mutiara Line LRT, the expansion of Penang International Airport (LTAPP) and the Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3 project.

These projects are expected to begin soon (LRT work has already started), and they are expected to transform the transportation system on the island. But Penangites will have to live with road diversions, closures and disruptions for the next two to three years.

The projects, even with a traffic management system in place, are sure to impact on an already congested road system in many parts of the island.

The bottom line is this, Penang’s city planners must admit to themselves that their past studies are obsolete, and they must be willing to go back to the drawing board.

The 29.5-kilometre Mutiara LRT is a case in point. It is designed to enhance connectivity between Penang Island and the mainland, reduce road congestion, and improve overall accessibility.

Admittedly, the LRT is a start and will provide a much-needed alternative to driving on the roads, but the LRT’s alignment is essentially a straight line on a round island. Many Penangites live in the Northeast District which includes Air Itam and Paya Terubong. Mutiara Line’s route will not serve these areas.

The state government must think outside the box.

How about a water taxi service that will take you from George Town to Batu Ferringhi in 10 minutes? The current journey time by road is 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic conditions.

This water taxi service was first proposed in March last year and was supposed to kick off by 2026. According to documents sighted by The Star, commuters can expect to be charged between RM1.30 and RM15.90.

Once completed, the service, the first of its kind in Malaysia, would ply six routes between piers in Straits Quay, Weld Quay, Pantai Jerejak and Batu Maung, in intervals of between 15 and 45 minutes.

However, just two weeks ago, the state government inexplicably announced the cancellation of the water taxi project citing failure by the company assigned to get the relevant approvals.

But my understanding is that all is not lost yet, as another company has put together a paper to restart the project. With the island’s growing population and increasing urbanisation, this is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative, which will help to ease congestion on the roads.

Another option that the state government should consider is cable cars as a viable form of commuting, and not just as a tourist attraction. La Paz, Bolivia; Mexico City; and Bogota, Colombia, have all added cable car lines to their public transit options.

The much-vaunted Penang Hill cable car project is on track and ridership should begin in early 2027, but Penang authorities should also consider another line.

For example, a possible cable car station at Gurney Drive would allow commuters to connect to the Botanical Gardens and thence to Penang Hill, bypassing all the frequently congested roads.

Both the water taxi service and a cable car network are viable alternatives for urban mobility because building more highways and expressways is not the answer to alleviating the chronic traffic congestion in Penang.

The Pearl of the Orient will start to lose its lustre if urgent, far-sighted steps are not taken now.