The state of Penang received a big chunk of Infrastructure allocations. If you notice, the whole of 9MP worth RM 220 billion.
Three mega projects are awared to Pg includes the 2nd Link Pg Bridge, Monorial and Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR).
The costs of each project are estimated at;
2nd Link - RM 2.6 billion
Monorial - RM 1.2 billion
PORR - RM 1.0 billion
These extra RM 4.8 billion will definitely spur the growth of Penang as major hub for transportation, industry and commercial. Our PM has been emotional in providing this huge favour to Penangnite.
When all these projects are completed, the people running them would determine the sustainability of the transportation system. We wish for an effective flow of traffic like Singapore. These 3 projects will deliver the promise.
Penang Island seems to be very attractive to investors as the 2nd link will spur both the Batu Maung and Batu Kawan area. Congratulation for those who had bought at least the middle or high cost residential properties there. Prices of properties in the North Eastern part of Penang are expected to increase as well.
Georgetown will be revived by the introduction of the monorial. By the time the monorial are completed, Penang can emulate Singapore by having at least a shopping complex on each of the interval stations. It's possible as Pg already had a dozen supermarts and two hypermarket with Jaya Jusco coming soon. This would sounds like a tourism city and indeed that is the aspiration of the Penang Government.
As an ordinary Penangnite, I share the emotional moment of PM Abdullah when he finishes the tabling of the 9MP. He did so much for us......
At the time when Penangite is celebrating, Johorian were pondering to their fate as the Link of their hope is quashed. It would meant that the traffic woes will continue at the Pasir Gudang and the Johor Bahru side. The fact is that, a lot of Johorian are working in Singapore. A new link will address their frustration of having to wait so long at the imigration centre.
Perhaps, it's not the intention of the current administration to give in so much to the Singapore government. In fact, I wouldn't know where to put my face if our Cabinet choose to give the neighbour the sands and the air space for thier air force to train. Remember that that, the sands given to them isn't going to benefit Malaysia either.
The fear is that singapore might try to reclaim lands at the Johor strait that end of the day, the strait will be too narrow as a sea lane. End of the day, Malaysian government would be laughed at by providing the very material that make singapore not only larger but would enable them to blockade the Johor port. The winner will then be Keppel Harbour in Singapore.
Right now, the Tanjung Pelepas Port at Pasir Gudang had risen to rival Keppel Harbour. It's right for the current government to forgo singapore's ironic request for greater good of Malaysian. In fact, the singaporean will also earn when the link is built but they seemed to be very demanding.
This time around, Malaysian are no longer stupid like the water issue. I'm proud of our government decision by not letting down our sovereign over the bridge. End of the day, we should seek for the win-win solution.
Maybe we should let the singapore government foot the entire bill for the bridge and we'll give them the flying rights but not the sands.
