Penang to call for RFP for Penang Hill cable car project next month
The Penang government, through the Penang Hill Corporation, will issue a Request For Proposal (RFP) likely next month for its proposed Penang Hill cable car project.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH – Padang Kota) told the State Legislative Assembly in Dewan Sri Pinang today that project would be implemented with the cooperation of the private sector through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).
“This cable car project is expected to take three to four years to complete and ready for operation,” Chow said when replying to an oral question by Lim Guan Eng (PH – Air Putih) who wanted to know the status of the project.
“The project was approved by the Federal Government under the 2020 Budget in October 2019.
“However, the Ministry of Finance through a letter dated April 3, 2020 stated that the application was not considered by the ministry and cannot be continued.
“On behalf of the Penang government, I had submitted an appeal on June 10 this year to the ministry to review and reconsider the allocation application for the proposed Penang Hill cable car project.
“But until today, we have not received any response from the ministry.”
Penang was initially given an allocation of RM100 million by the Federal Government to build the Penang Hill cable car project under 2020 Budget on Oct 11 when Lim was then the Finance Minister.
This was, however, withdrawn following a change of the Federal Government with Perikatan Nasional taking over Putrajaya from Pakatan Harapan in February.
Chow said under the 11th Malaysia Plan, the total number of Federal Government projects approved for Penang under 2020 Budget until Aug 2 is 167 projects with a total cost of RM14.9 billion.
“These projects consist of 126 new projects with a cost of RM10.52 billion and 41 extension projects with a cost of RM4.38 billion. Out of the 167 projects, 148 are physical and 19 non-physical.”
The breakdown of the 167 Federal Government approved projects is as follows: planning (13), according to schedule (122), completed (25), behind schedule (6) and ‘ill’ (1).
Lim, in a supplementary question, also wanted to know whether there was any reason given by the Federal Government for the cancellation of the Penang Hill cable car project.
In addition to that, he said the previous Pakatan Harapan Federal Government had guaranteed a RM10 billion loan for the Penang Transport Master Plan to help reduce traffic congestion in the state.
He asked whether its cancellation has anything to do with ‘revenge’ by the current PN Federal Government.
Chow said until now there was no good news from the Federal Government for Penang and the state had already followed up with an appeal to the ministry and prime minister.
The appeal is also to obtain the loan or bond guarantee from the Federal Government so that the state could carry out the public transportation project.
He also said the state would want that the projects to be included under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“The 12th Malaysia Plan is not finalised yet; it’s only in January 2021. We still hope that because of the importance of the projects, the Federal Government will consider them.
“With the situation now, Penang cannot just sit and wait. We need a final decision so that we can take alternative action,” Chow said.
Source: Buletin Mutiaria
“With the situation now, Penang cannot just sit and wait. We need a final decision so that we can take alternative action,” Chow said.
Then, show your capability now
So so many ‘”plan to do projects” in hand, which one u wanna start first ah ?
pls la get one done first la.
We got so many projects in planned state, Penang Master’s project, Farlim to Jelutong Express-way, Paya Terubong to Bukit Jambul (not complete yet), sea tunnel, a few expressway, LRT, Gurney Whalf, Weld Quay weld quay reclamation, Water Taxi, Airport expansion….10 years of playing planning game, I’m tired of this Bullshit.
hahahaha sick of this planning planning bullshit, after planning will say pending this approval that approval, then pending money.
ENUF!
I feel you,, in fact all penangites do. nothing can be done.
Can we RFP for new state government?
@jacklsw
Haha…..I really love your sense of humor!!
stop destroying the island pls !!!
@jacklsw
Why don’t you RFP for a new Federal Government first.
Penang deserves infra development with careful planning. So far Penang has only been a publicity state calling itself big names like smart city, silicon valley of the east etc but no proper infrastructure development has been done. All Penang knows is to build condo. Just look at those poor congested roads serving up to hundreds of blocks of condos in Relau.
LKY commented our road condition more than 10 years ago when he visited Penang. He is no longer on earth and look at us today. Still as sorry as it were 10 years back.
@jon
Not only LKY, all my visiting friends and relatives from overseas have been making jokes of the bumpy roads over these years. *sigh* Simple roads also can’t do a proper job, why talk about all the big big projects?????? Don’t try to enrich cronies at the rakyat’s expense lah…….