GEORGE TOWN, May 13 — Penang announced today that it will make available reports on the Penang Transport Master Plan submitted by SRS Consortium, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow.
Penang local government and traffic management committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow agreed with a councillor’s suggestion that SRS reports on the massive project be opened to the public for better understanding.
“The state government has agreed to accept the request by Dr Lim Mah Hui to make available the SRS reports and will make [an] announcement after the arrangement is finalised,” he said in a statement today.
Chow was responding to a statement by Lim two days ago asking for full revelation of the Transport Master Plan reports by project delivery partner, SRS.
Lim, who is a councillor from Penang Island City Council, also claimed that the ambitious RM27 billion Transport Master Plan could pose financial risks.
On the financial risks, Chow admitted the state’s concerns over the possible impact of using the reclamation funding model, the huge capital expenditure and the long-term financial implications of the project.
He said the state is prepared to address these issues and has appointed two independent consultants to conduct a peer review of SRS proposals.
The state had appointed KPMG and USM Transport Team to advise the state accordingly on the economic, financial, business and technical aspects of the project.
“This is in addition to any valuable feedback and contribution we may receive from the civil society members who are well versed with such issues,” Chow said.
He said the state government will continue to organise roundtables and town hall meetings on the issue.
“Such consultative process will continue during the construction stages to ensure the construction process and progress will not cause undue inconvenience and disruption to the people,” he said.
Non-governmental organisations have been raising concerns against the project that involves introducing a network of public transport system and highways.
