GEORGE TOWN: A PKR assemblyman has praised the Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) MRT project and taken a swipe at the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).
Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin took her first ride on the MRT on Monday, posting her experience live via Facebook and compared the construction cost of the project with the projected cost of the PTMP’s light rail transit (LRT) plan.
In one of the videos, she said: “I am going to ask why Penang can’t have an MRT. Why an LRT that cost RM27bil while this MRT, Kajang to Sungai Buloh, costs RM21bil for 51km, 31 stations, seven interchange stations and seven stations underground. How come this MRT is so much cheaper?
“Our LRT, we have to reclaim 1,800ha of the sea and borrow RM1bil from China Exim Bank.
She also complained that her constituency was not included in the PTMP and she would raise the matter at the state’s public transport council meeting tomorrow.
The RM27bil projected cost for the PTMP, which was based on a 2011 study, was touted by the state government as a “five-in-one public transport solution involving highways, LRT, monorails, catamarans or water taxis, buses, taxis and cable cars”.
Penang Transport Council chairman and state exco member Chow Kon Yeow said last month that the PTMP cost has increased to RM46bil after several components were added.
In response to Dr Norlela’s videos, Chow yesterday clarified that the projected cost of the LRT from Komtar until the planned reclaimed island off the south of Penang’s coastline was RM8.4bil.
He said the actual cost of PTMP projects would only be finalised after detailed engineering design and open tenders were completed pending federal approvals.
Dr Norlela said she would re-check her documents to confirm the projected cost.
