Whichever party or alliance helming the federal administration, need-based policies that will benefit the rakyat must be given priority, not political consideration.

During a recent “Malaysia Madani” Hari Raya open house event in Penang, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim brought along a piece of good news for the people of Penang: the federal government has approved an additional allocation for the construction of the island’s LRT project.

The actual allocation amount and fund sources will be decided over the next one or two weeks after the finance ministry and other departments have discussed the matter with the Penang state government.

Anyway, it means that the Penang LRT project will finally become a reality soon.

At the same time, following the agreement of the federal government to help fund the Penang LRT project, chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government would study the possibility of reducing the scale of the land reclamation project to meet the expectation of the prime minister.

Penang state government has originally planned to finance the LRT project through land reclamation along the island’s southern coast, but the project has since incurred much controversy and backlash among the people and activists.

Penang Fishermen’s Association has strongly opposed to the Penang South Islands (PSI) reclamation project, arguing that the project would adversely affect their livelihood.

Meanwhile, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has also claimed that the reclamation project will irreversibly destroy the marine ecosystem and the fishermen’s livelihood while generating 3.2 million tons of carbon annually contravening the Malaysian government’s pledge for the Paris Agreement.

Additionally, this state government project has also become a target of the onslaught of rival political parties, especially in the run-up to the state election.

With the federal government now ready to fund the LRT project and downsizing of the PSI reclamation, a win-win situation has been created.

On the one hand, the severe traffic congestion issue on Penang island will be effectively addressed, and on the other hand, controversies arising from land reclamation will also get a respite.

We must admit that this is not going to be a solution that will make everyone happy, for the simple reason that the opponents have wanted the reclamation to be canceled altogether.

That said, having weighed the needs and views of all parties, downsizing the reclamation should be seen as a viable compromise.

To appease the opponents, it is imperative for the state government to step up communication in an attempt to seek their understanding and acceptance while allaying their fears and doubts and offering the necessary assistance to the affected fishermen.

The Penang LRT project is one that the whole state has been looking forward to for years. As such, CM Chow can finally breathe a sigh of relief now that the federal government is prepared to fund this ambitious mega project which has been stuck on the drawing board for so long.

The project was first proposed way back in 1995, but for more than two decades nothing substantial has actually been done. During this long wait, we have witnessed a change of Penang state as well as federal administrations, but the project remains very much just on paper!

In 2008, then PM Abdullah Badawi announced during the Chinese New Year that he would deliver three CNY gifts to the people of Penang, one of which was LRT. Unfortunately BN lost the state administration in that year’s general election, and sure enough the “CNY gifts” just ended abruptly, unfulfilled.

In 2018, Pakatan Harapan helmed the federal government, and hopes were high that the Penang LRT project would finally become a reality. Unfortunately the PH government was toppled in 2020.

And now, with the good news from PM Anwar, this project will eventually be able to get started with federal assistance.

To be honest, the federal government should have started the Penang LRT project long ago in a bid to solve the chronic traffic congestion problem on the island.

Penang is one of the most developed states in the country, with industrial development among the country’s top three. Its 6.8% GDP growth in 2021 was the fastest nationwide.

The thing is, with the prosperity comes the inevitable traffic congestion problem aggravated by the scarcity of land on the island.

Indeed Penang needs a comprehensive public transportation system, and LRT is seen is absolutely necessary to address the residents’ traffic woes. However, due to political factors, the project has been sidelined by the federal government.

As Anwar has said, Penang is the country’s second largest city outside Klang Valley, and since Klang Valley has LRT and MRT, why can’t Penang have something similar? If not because of the unity government now taking charge in Putrajaya, how long will the people in Penang have to wait before they can eventually ride on an LRT train?

As a matter of fact, whichever party or alliance helming the federal administration, need-based policies that will benefit the rakyat must be given priority, not political consideration. The well-being of residents in opposition states must never be neglected.

What has happened to Penang LRT project should not be repeated elsewhere in the country!