I wrote this piece together with Chuah Chong Lai mainly to explain that there are other cheaper, quicker and more effective transport options for Penang.
Many Penang residents see the proposed “LRT system” as the panacea for traffic congestion in the state.
But nothing could be further from the truth. A single-line “light rail transit” from George Town to Penang Airport, which will cost over RM10bn, will have little impact on state-wide congestion.
Have people forgotten about improving public transport on mainland Penang? The proposed RM10bn “LRT” line covers only part of Penang Island and does not serve the mainland, where even more people reside.
A route map is making the rounds showing even more LRT and monorail routes, including on mainland Penang. But all these other routes are slated for some distant fantasy future. They will take decades to materialise and cost a further RM30bn!
Let’s think for a moment: all the MRT, LRT and monorail lines in the Klang Valley have failed to ease congestion there. So why should it be any different in Penang with only a single LRT line costing RM10bn? Full article on Aliran website
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A network of RapidPenang buses with mini bus feeder should be adequate for a small island with less than a million inhabitants.
No need to be fanciful with LRT.
Small population but also small useable flat land as 5/8 are hills. Penang must plan for future. Visitors with pocket full of pies comes in cars and jam the roads. Vistors drive, burn fossil fuels and leave carbon food prints. Petrol cars are out. Chinese are buying ELECTRIC cars and building more ECs
The Hutchinson family from UK sold their home to travel to Malaysia, first stop is Penang:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=p-9nLPbAfps&feature=youtu.be
One British Pound = RM5.80.
Better than most foreign YouTubers that show nothing but nasi lemak and Ramli burger.
Why talk about pound? Uk is declining too. Sunak said too many migrants. Now, will they discourage those HK BNO passports. Look, sing $$ and thai baht is ketuan than myr. Thai used to be less in the past and now is myr is tiga suku
Around 30% of the 140,000 Hong Kong people who have taken advantage of the BNO route so far said they are still struggling to make a new life in UK.
More than half said they still need help “understanding British social, political, and economic systems” as well as “local culture and way of life.”
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-uk-adaptation-02052023121250.html/ampRFA
Lucky hkers. Tiny flats cost more than 1 million pound. Without selling HK flats, have to bread and water
Part 1: We discussed this issue long ago, ref. the KL MRT/LRT mess. Some cities abroad have been providing free buses for a long time.
Now, hydrogen fuel, includung “sustainably extracted” hydrogen, provides another more option. Sarawak and other countries have been testing this.
If cannot decouple from car, at least must de-risk by car pooling to reduce co2 exhaust causing climate change!
A very good point but NGOs somehow cannot support such carpooling initiatives.
Carpooling is not the soln. This is only a few percent. With strangers even unlikely.
kl , penang and pj has free buses. kl go bus comes very often but only in golden square.
Penang LRT – A Quest for Enhanced Mobility
https://youtube.com/watch?v=b0KW4NYtXiA&feature=youtu.be
Part 2: The government remains fixated on selective “development” (megaprojects, road contracts), road taxes, etc. The propaganda influencing it comes from construction, private vehicle manufacture, finance, insurance, mined fuel production, etc. Until the financing of politics is dragged into daylight, little will change.
Please have more development to create more jobs else my son and daughter will have no choice but to look for jobs in Singapore!
Those anti development folks want us to become like Kelantan?
This rakyat or alpha 888 expects Penangkias to work in losman or backpacker hostel which charges a bed for rm30 per night. Main work is to clean the hostel and you needs tar uni college degree?
alpha goes there for a shiok time. Too undeveloped, he did niot stay long and come back as he missed the smell of busy streets
How to go there for shiok time if our Ringgit is so low in value? Singapore people are mostly materialistic, no money no talk and will look down at you … just like we look at Bangladeshis here.
That (Ex-) Singaporean lady has just proven your point with her sick joke about Malaysia
https://youtube.com/watch?v=iCn9S0O3Woc&feature=youtu.be
Trying to show who is ketuan???? Land, water and plenty of resources, our $$$ still gostan??
materialistic because, there is more $$$ floating around over there as compare here. Our myr used to be bigger than Thai. Now we are only tiga suku of thai bath. Where is ketuan? We are between and myr is kechil.
Many talented Penangkias left the island and went to another island. They see too many seniors and retirees here. Is like aged care home. They have not been to a Senior citizen care centre. Alpha 888 is 88 senior in disguise.
Snub, troubling issues, forced super track coach to Singapore
The departure of in-demand coach Simon Lau leaves another scar on the country’s athletics soul.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/05/31/snub-troubling-issues-forced-super-track-coach-to-singapore/
Now Singdollar gets RM3.4. More will head south to earn a living.
Very good. After retirement, they all can come back to good old Penang, to its laid back life and rest easy in their old age.
Singapore is not far, it’s just at the end tip of our country, about 800 hundred kilometers from here. So, why not?
Penang is city of seniors. Penangkias can get jobs mainly to look after the age. Penangkias will see more people leaving this world….
The famous MM2H Shanghai couple came back to their Penang home after being away for 2 years and 8 months due to COVID lockdown:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_UdqAPzh1ng&feature=youtu.be
The video got 17K viewing in the first hour!
This famous Shanghainese couple already spent 8 years of its 10 years MM2H permit. With ceiling raised, they may not be able to renew after 10 years. No wonder the husband only renewed his driving licence for another 2 years.
Likely they may move to Thailand Chiangmai less conditions to meet also less ketuan policies.
Shanghai population is over 20 million. 2/3 of this country. Why people here because rumah tuan here is not moving forward? See we have to ask ketuan to subside our living. We are asking foreigners to inflate our prices. They live like maharajas and we live like paupers.
https://fifthperson.com/singapore-dollar-strengthen-malaysian-ringgit/
Fundamental economic reasons why RM depreciating over the years.
Glissantia, the Anilverse economy guru, can easily add 88 more reasons
The Singaporean dollar surged to the strongest level on record against the Malaysian ringgit, with the latter suffering more from weakening confidence in China’s economic recovery.
3.5 next?
It will be up to Bank Negara to search for “remedies” to strengthen the ringgit, which has depreciated amid uncertainty over the United States debt ceiling issue, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Ringgit is low because our country has very low value output, not competitive any more. Simple as that.
The fact that the government continues to control prices of basic items and wasting on subsidies would not help our competitiveness in the eyes of foreign investors.
why remedy? We inviting bangladeshis, nepalis, indians from low wages to work on low value jobs. After 65 years, we are still a third world whereas Vietnamese and Cambodians are catching up and we are sliding back …
Import bangladeshis, nepalis etc low wages workers but ‘agents’ get lucrative commission money via ali baba mode of transactions.
Masalah Ringgit sekarang
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GSX-fPPCxrM&feature=youtu.be
See how a Singapore couple can enjoy good food with their strong SingDollar in their one day trip to Johor Bahru:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=WtA4Phwyxso&feature=youtu.be
Last time we can go southern Thailand shopping and dining with currency advantage, but today we cannot do so.
Now we are onlt tiga suku of thai $$. Last time you went there ketuan talk big. Now still ketuan?
Ringgit 3:80 to 1 SGD, Possible?
https://youtube.com/live/spC2REvZhkk?feature=share
The ringgit has been in a freefall this year, and is one of the worst performing Asian currencies against the US dollar year-to-date. A major reason for the local note’s sharp decline is the reluctance of Malaysian exporters to repatriate their earnings to Malaysia, economy minister Rafizi Ramli said today.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/amp/category/highlight/2023/06/28/rafizi-fingers-malaysian-exporters-for-ringgits-fall/
Please vote wisely in the coming state election knowing the damage done by PN after the Sheraton Move – now we are suffering the delayed effect as investors have all but lost confidence. Keluarga Malaysia government was also hopeless with poor leadership.
We have more than one trillion debt. Let’s enjoy more!!!
Night time you want to wait at unlighted stop and you do not know when it comes? You can enjoy yam seng and no worries to take lrt home.
Nigeria removed fuel subsidy.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65737846.amp
Could happen here? T20 be prepared to pay more.
For the last 5-10 years, they have been saying they are looking into a way to identify deserving people. Billions were squandered on the undeserving under BR1M.
Too few people pay income tax. Those paying income tax will soon get no subsidy. More will migrate elsewhere.
Not migrate but parachute. No $$$ as it is very costly.
T20 may not get fuel subsidy soon.
So better downgrade to smaller car?
Downgrade means losing face and status. Already many drive big cars to boost their ego!
Can downgrade to PERODUA Axia E – harga ‘rahmah’ RM22,000.
https://www.thesundaily.my/gear-up/perodua-axia-e-debuts-at-rm22000-PB11107796
Bring back efficient and people friendly mini buses for the last mile connection which complement LRT and also to navigate twists n turns narrow streets of Penang.
Read more and learn from KL mistakes :
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2023/06/22/mrt-if-i-had-a-hammer/
Spore apologise to Bolehland over silly Chia’s tasteless jokes.
DAP apologise to UMno and vice versa.
Shriek with Anil as moderator should emulate kindness to apologise to Tunglang, and vice versa.
Then merrier Anilverse.
On another thought, may be too late to reconcile for unity at Anilverse as Tunglang is long missing in action and unlikely to return? If Tunglang reads this, prove me wrong, ok?
Wrong title.
It should be “Die due also Penangites must Drive”.
So public transportation, be it LRT or Tram, will not appeal to Penangites.
The state government should consider Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
Where are the youngster reported here support clean environment? With LRT or Tram, Penang people can live away from town centre, population spread further. Japanese travel from O saka to tok yo to work. I heard a Tawainese fly back from HK to Taipei in an hour which takes about the same time from Airport to HK island!
Electronic pricing not chip chip and not easy to implement. Penang kias work in Johore. How to chase after him to pay when he comes home for holidays? He gets free but rest pay?. If you are smart, then cities like London, beijing are stupid?
Sing apor can do it because it is an island. Only outside cars are from Malaysia and has to pass through wood lands. You want Penang to set up car immigration check point?
Singapore Versus Malaysia Transportation Comparison
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Z0EI5sxPEoM&feature=youtu.be
Public transportation is a waste of money since everyone prefers to own and drive personal car – the quicker and more effective transport option for Penangites.
Now every household member owns a car, not just one car for each household.
True. Today people all drive cars for many reasons and public transportation is not appealing to young generation. How to court or impress your potential spouse if you do nor own a car?
When it is jams and congest, impressed or nightmares? Above ground, no need to share with ar pek, ar chim, rambo dog or garfield cat. LRT is more comfortable and can cater a football team with spaces for walking which cars or svu cant
The parents of your potential spouse will likely discount you if you do not own and drive a car. Sad but true.
Cars have more accidents. Why more than 1 car? Why son has to be burdened by shark loans. If take LRT a few times, riding them is stress free and you are sure to be on time as compare to driving. Car jerk and shake.
look at putra or star. automated by electrons. they know where to stop and to stop they will slow down electronically control. unlike manual, jam hard and then add butter hard to to make it smooth
Having a car loan is a norm.
RON95 is very cheap to B40.
So nobody will forgo their car to switch to public transportation.
Cheap because we still produce oil but if black water dam can dried up so is our oil and we will be like India buy cheap crude oil from Russia but no refinery to purify them
But many do not want to pay parking. Like tun lang drives to eat and go in circles and merry round looking for free parking space. Burn more fossils just for few dollar one ton mee.
Own cars and cars occupied LAND. Penang Land is used for parking cars. 1 cars – 4 people. Ask Rakyat to go and figure out about land for cars or for humans?
But But, your Penang MPs say and argue that there must be progress and modernity for our tiny little island. Have you asked your state government about this land is for cars or humans question? Are you Misguided and got Misdirected.
Alpha you long ago misguided by to your MCA transport minister. All public transport are controlled by your MCA. Bus, taxi, motor licence under your mana malu boss. Even rapid under your boss. State no kuasa.
alpha you hit right tune. progress includes lrt so that rakyat like you need not to buy cars and leave carbon foot prints
Rakyat or alpha. You clueless why gomen built tram and light rail for? You clueless? You better check again what is tram and lrt? You copy blindly?
Progress means extend Penang land mass
See Holland, sink spore, hong kong and Japan airport, buildings on new reclaimed land
Die Die Penang must be under PH
https://youtube.com/watch?v=9BfO3YDilkY&feature=youtu.be
For those who die die must drink Starbucks or Zus specialty coffee, time to try local Penang coffee like Sin Boon Kee.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ay8Ly9m-h2o&feature=youtu.be
Drink local, less outflow of our money to save Ringgit.
Don’t waste money on specialty coffee.
Not cool at all when it costs so much money, money better save for rainy days or retirement. Be contend with simple kopiO!
A single LRT is the main spine. It has to start somewhere.. Just like old trunk road, it starts from jb to Butterworth. It takes 1 day to travel from jb to KL and another day to go to Butterworth..it collects all side roads. Same as sing apor mrt. Lky build first mrt and then continues to extend and expand and they use buses in unreachable areas.
papers and website sky news are report China is rearing lobsters in their fish ponds. also Hainan island is now going to harvest DURIANS. The farmers will get rich as they need not to import. They go to school, to study and apply their heads to improve their INCOME. Here Penang fish men just doing the same thing and use their grey matter to protest and carries a tongkat. Penang has a SAINS uni for what? There should be a partnership between P and P
China is going to harvest it’s home grown DURIANS. Penang habis. Who is going to fly down just for DURIANS. Maybe they grow king of kings DURIANS. The world is ng the way food is produced. Like AA, everyone can eat DURIANS. Likewise, are we still laid-back to fish by sampan? We have Sains uni in Penang for what? Is next gen will still fish by sampan? It becomes soooo deer. Who buy unless they lelong. Everyone winner by dying.
China durians from Hainan lacks specific nutrients only found in Penang for that distinctive taste.
You tasted china grown DURIANS? Why not orso say pahang DURIANS don’t have the nutrients like Penang? Penang laksa is different from KL laksa. Same with durian. China managed to grow it’s DURIANS and same with Down under.
Why not the same with musa king? It is from pah ang. Soil and rainfall different from Pen ang too.
KFC Menu Rahmah (2-5pm): A piece of Kentucky Fried Chicken, a butterscotch bun and a bottle of mineral water at just RM5.
https://newswav.com/article/kfc-pizza-hut-join-others-to-offer-affordable-menu-rahmah-meals-A2305_H02pRz
Anil can have a section for readers to update availability of Menu Rahmah?
Can help readers to cut cost of living.
[A fast-food chain] is not sincere with its Rahmah offer since it offer only from 2-5pm. Poor people end up spending more as snacks between meals.
Less cars Penang Island like in Copenhagen Public Transport system ?
https://youtu.be/f-uIJXUjepQ
State Election is coming and Anil ought to give us his views on the challenges ahead for PH to defend against the onslaught of Green Wave.
Also appreciate viewers comments on this matter.
No basis to compare Malay land ownership in Penang with Palestine, says Universiti Sains Malaysia’s analyst Azeem Fazwan.
DAP’s Steven Sim also says PAS’ comparison ‘mocks the Palestinian struggle’.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/06/14/no-basis-to-compare-malay-land-ownership-in-penang-with-palestine-says-analyst/
ESCAPE Penang, a retro-eco adventure park located in Teluk Bahang, has yet again achieved a significant milestone. It secured a place among Asia’s top three amusement and water parks, as recognised by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice 2022 Best of the Best – Asia awards.
https://www.therakyatpost.com/fun/2023/06/03/escape-penang-ranks-third-among-top-asian-theme-parks/
Escape theme park is very well received by foreign visitors
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hLWSqRr0_R4&feature=youtu.be
‘Die die’ title by naysayers is no good for Penang. Be more positive else Penang may fall into the hands of PN.
LRT is secondary to developing affordable housings on Penang Island?
This is debatable. Penang is not physically close unlike JB to Singapore, who can snap up unsold condo units.
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/94615/11500-apartments-costing-over-rm500000-unsold-in-jb-iskandar-puteri
The fact is people priority is die die must have a place to live in, unless CM Chow still allowsany homeless folks to linger below his office around Komtar Bus Hub?
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/06/16/penang-opens-88-bed-homeless-shelter/
Shelter for Penang homeless near Komtar.
Neglecting public transport system :
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2023/05/23/public-transport-needs-reformasi-too/
“Steps on how to improve the transportation network have always been driven by car usage, leading to more highways, more roadbuilding, more parking spaces, better car access and cheaper interest rates to encourage car ownership.”
Highway projects can give to cronies and can jack up harga and then everything and anything is possible.
How Singapore Is Building A BILLION Dollar Cycling Utopia
https://youtube.com/watch?v=XJjW9cnCOQc&feature=youtu.be
Singapore will transform into a cycling utopia where dedicated cycling paths stretch like ribbons, seamlessly connecting parks, neighborhoods, and bustling streets.
Can we emulate Singapore to promote cycling? Note petrol may not be subsidised down the road.
Cycling is extant in Scandinavia, Germany and Holland. But it won’t do for our insecure shoow-offs.
Electric bicycle not chip chip. Pm, cm, yb show the way using bicycles on certain occasions. Don’t show off cars and outriders
Council has built cycle ways. Anil should have a ride up on this and improve on it if there are short comings
Dr Lim Mah Hui had a vision of seeing more bicycles and fewer cars on the streets of Penang (April 2017).
Vision without action is merely a dream. (6 years already!)
https://penangforum.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/make-penang-the-cycling-capital/
This guy only cycle for cheap publicity. No wonder he lacks credibility after such publicity stunt.
The construction of a proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Batam, Indonesia is expected to begin in the middle of 2024, with the project targeted to finish in 2025.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-batam-light-rail-transit-lrt-system-transport-construction-3494716
Batam is a wild wild south and very rural years ago. Yet you see how far sighted they are. American Engineer Consultant Lious Berger TOLD LKY to carry on the bus system. LKY throw their ADVICE and start MRT and area licensing system. ALS not easy and Lononers find very costly to implement. You can write and talk. Every lobangs must be seal or … will get through. Who will chase KL cars to pay the fine?
How can Penang lose out to Batam?
Not Batam handles lots of BPO services for Singapore.
What has happened to the BPO at Bayan Batu Mayang? Any update?
Die die must give subsidies.
As a result, cannot recover fast from mounting debts.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2023/06/20/unity-governments-achilles-heel-is-the-economy/
Aerial view of Penang Island today symbolises progress to justify LRT ?
https://youtu.be/RZ8rcriowN8
Malaysian island Penang bans Airbnb and other short-term lets, in bid to reduce number of undesirable visitors
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3223080/malaysian-island-penang-bans-airbnb-and-other-short-term-lets-bid-reduce-number-undesirable-visitors
Die-lah for those who need to rent property to service housing loan.
Good comment on MRT in KL that Penang can learn so that LRT Penang to become LR with transit the key element overlooked.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2023/06/08/our-mrt-should-omit-the-r-its-always-mt/
What happen to the corruption case of rocket man assistants in the HR? Why Macc make noise and sensationise but no evidence. Only purr?
Die die also must eat!
The Penang International Food Festival (PIFF) 2023 is taking over Penang in June, hitting up various hotspots across the island and mainland. It’s gonna be a wild ride from June 3 to June 25, jam-packed with three main events (Bertam Tasty Trails, Gourmet Stars of Penang, and Penang Food Festival) and five mini festivals (Wonderfood, Malam BBQ @ Penanti, Rasa2 Rahmah, Santai Under The Sky, and Seafeast).
https://piff.com.my/
Die Die must eat durian first.
Musang King reported over production less demand due to heart days n consumers’ shallower pockets. 1kg RM15-25 can get no play play.
Black Thorn species has now overtaken to become the king of durians.
MB Kedah declared no selling of sand, soil or stones for Penang South island reclaimation project.
https://youtu.be/8lYxDMX6b_U
Also with Gerakan Dominic Lau and Oh Tong Keong to resolve traffic jam by supporting Kulim Airport as cargo hub to alleviate congestion.
He said Penangites should not worry of PAS green waves as non Muslims in Kedah have not been “potong” xxxxxxx …
Penang’s first light rail transit (LRT) system is set to extend to the suburbs of Tanjung Bungah, 6km beyond the initially planned endpoint of Komtar.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/05/30/penangs-lrt-to-go-up-to-tanjung-bungah-now/
Malaysia is among the top 10 countries with the fastest-growing population of ultra-rich individuals — which is defined as having a minimum of US$30 million or RM139 million in net wealth — last year, property consultancy Knight Frank’s latest report showed.