Can Penang LRT project withstand political shifts?
A transport consultant has questioned whether the upcoming LRT project in Penang is robust enough to withstand political shifts given the country’s track record with rail projects in the past.
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, the founder of transport think tank My Mobility Vision, said that while the government is often bound by legal obligations in awarded contracts, history has shown a tendency to take such commitments lightly.
“Malaysia’s track record with infrastructure projects shows that legal commitments alone are not always enough to guarantee continuity,” he told FMT, pointing to the High-Speed Rail (HSR) and East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) as examples of projects that were either shelved or renegotiated after binding contracts were sealed.
The HSR, which was expected to cut down travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to just 90 minutes, was cancelled when Perikatan Nasional came to power in 2020.
Two years earlier, the Pakatan Harapan government halted the ECRL project after it took office following the 2018 general election despite construction having commenced the previous year. Work resumed in 2019, with the cost subsequently reduced by RM11 billion following multiple contract renegotiations.
Similarly, Wan Agyl said the suggestion that a project was safe if it was in an advanced stage of development was debatable, pointing out that infrastructure projects like the MRT3 and HSR had achieved significant progress when they were brought to a halt.
“The key issue here isn’t how far along the project is but whether the process so far has been handled efficiently and transparently. Without strong governance, even advanced projects can face setbacks if priorities change.”
Wan Agyl was commenting on an assurance given by economy minister Rafizi Ramli that the upcoming Penang LRT project is unlikely to be cancelled even if a new government comes into power.
Rafizi said the project is moving towards the stage where contracts will be awarded, making it too costly to scrap.
Wan Agyl said that while political stability would ensure a project’s continuity, Malaysia’s political landscape has become “unpredictable”. He said frequent changes to the ruling coalition and leadership in recent years has impacted a number of major projects.
“Does the Penang LRT have bipartisan support to protect it from future political interference? Without this, even the most promising projects can become targets for political opposition.”
Wan Agyl called for a critical examination of the potential consequences of cancelling the LRT project in Penang.
Beyond job losses and reduced investor confidence, the impact on urban development and environmental goals could be significant, he said, adding that Penang’s sustainability efforts may falter.
“These are real risks that need to be addressed with data and transparency rather than assumptions.”
However, Consilz Tan, a fellow with think tank Center for Market Education, believes the Penang LRT project is better insulated due to the fact that it is within the state government’s control.
Tan said a new government would be unlikely to shelve the project due to the costs involved. It was previously reported that the project would cost over RM10.5 billion.
“I hope political sentiments won’t lead to the project being called off,” she said, adding that infrastructure and transportation were important in raising living standards and attracting investments.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
