GEORGE TOWN: Penang could possibly seek federal funding if Putrajaya does not approve its application to reclaim land and create three man-made islands off the southern coast of the island, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project was the funding model for the multi-billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), the state’s proposed integrated public transport system.
He said if PSR was not approved, the state could hand over the master plan to the federal government to handle.
Chow spoke to reporters after visiting the public display of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the proposed Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) Highway project — the first phase of PTMP – —which is currently on public display for 30 days until Aug 10.
PTMP includes roads, light-rail transit (LRT) and other modes of transport crisscrossing the state.
It will be carried out by SRS Consortium, a project delivery partner which will reclaim three islands south of Penang island to finance the PTMP.
Chow said the state had not received any approvals for PSR, the LRT alignment and the PIL 1 highway, following applications by SRS Consortium.
“If we obtain approvals, the second phase of the final design and the financial arrangement can then be worked out.
“Not that we do not want to move into the second stage of work. That would be the final design, and that would entail costs. You know we are not paying SRS Consortium any money,” he said.