CAP supports PM's call to review controversial PSI project

GEORGETOWN - Penang Consumers Association (CAP) welcomes the prime minister's move to review the controversial Penang South Island (PSI) mega project, which has faced criticism from various NGOs.

Its president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the prime minister's message shows inadequacies in its planning and framework. The message also raises concerns over the state government's competence in creating an effective development programme for the people of Penang.

He said the letter sent to the prime minister last Friday outlined the reasons why the PSI mega project was unneccessary.

“Initially, the state government offered the mega coastal reclamation project as a necessity to ensure the implementation of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

“However, the unity government now agreed to prepare funds for the Penang LRT. Why must the coastal reclamation continue?” he said in a statement here on Sunday.

Mohideen said the state government has been facing strong criticisms over needing more land for development and it offers job opportunities.

However, he believed that these claims were baseless and contradict the reality on the ground as Batu Kawan has over 3,000 acres of land available for economic growth.

“It has all the facilities and it is close as well as connected to the Butterworth port and Bayan Lepas Airport.

"Investing in Batu Kawan will contribute to bridging unequal economic and social development between the mainland and the island," said Mohideen.

He said the Chief Minister had admitted that 12,000 hectares of land were prepared for the development of Penang with over 500 hectares in the island itself.

He said several industry areas in Penang were rarely used.

“What’s the rationale for the coastal reclamation? It shows the shortcoming of the Penang state government’s outdated development model,” he said.

Mohideen said the LRT proposed was another example of an unsustainable development initiative.

He said CAP had expressed concerns over the rationale behind building the LRT, as there were other more cost-effective and modern urban solutions available that would be less disruptive.

He further said that instead of addressing the traffic congestion issue in Penang, the LRT would only add to the complexity and cause disruption to the city's structure.

“We urge the Transport Ministry to appoint a trusted traffic expert to review Halcrow’s original plan and mold it to consider the latest technological advancement within transport technology and city solutions.

“We urge the Penang state government to hold a meeting to re-evaluate its development model and form a new, meaningful development agenda to position Penang as Malaysia’s new economic model and become an example for sustainable development,” he said.