Anwar Gains Political Points By Funding Penang Lrt Says Analyst

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The prime minister had earlier announced that Putrajaya would help fund the project, aimed at easing traffic congestion. (Anwar Ibrahim Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has scored political points for the unity government by providing federal funds for the proposed Penang light rail transit project, an analyst says.
Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia told FMT that the decision would counterbalance the dissatisfaction among Penangites over the environmental impact of the massive Penang South Islands land reclamation project.
Better public transport is long overdue in Penang, he said, despite the project’s costs.
Ads by Kiosked“Only Penangites can really understand the unending traffic problems we encounter daily, even with the two bridges.
“State polls or no state polls, Penangites have high expectations of this federal government since one of their own has now reached the apex of the political hierarchy,” said Fauzi in reference to Anwar’s roots in the state.
Meanwhile, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the decision should not be seen as a pre-election gift, as federal intervention was necessary to make the project possible.
Scaling down the PSI reclamation project would have an indirect effect on the state elections because the fishermen, “who are mostly Malay, have been very vocal opposing the PSI project,” said Azmi.
Azmi said that based on past election results, Penang’s non-Malay voters were very much behind Pakatan Harapan.
“The question now is where the Malay voters stand, hence why I think the PSI has been scaled down (to attract them).”
Last Sunday, Anwar said he had heard the feedback of locals and fishermen on Penang island’s southern coast, where the reclamation of three islands is to take place.
“To address the issues around the island reclamation, the project will be reviewed so its scope can be reduced,” he said.
The PSI project will reclaim a total of 1,821 hectares, over an area of 17 square kilometres, off the southern coast of Penang island between Permatang Damar Laut and Gertak Sanggul. - FMT

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