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He added that the Penang South Islands (PSI) project will be scaled down. The PSI project had been planned to fund the LRT project, as part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).
He said traffic congestion on the island had become a pressing issue and noted that previous federal governments had not given enough funds to address it.
“It is not because I am a Penangite myself, but it (LRT) is a pressing need. After so long with two bridges, the traffic issue has yet to be addressed. And the state has repeatedly asked for allocation.
“The federal government will add funds to a large scheme that would allow the Penang government to immediately implement the LRT project.
“In a week or two, we will meet up with the state government to set up the scheme as it involves a large amount of loans that require the involvement of the federal government,” he said at an Aidilfitri open house at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Penang here.
Transport minister Loke Siew Fook told FMT that the project will be “fully undertaken” by Putrajaya.
It was previously reported that the cost of the LRT project was estimated to be RM10 billion.
Anwar also said he has heard the grouses of locals and fishermen on Penang island’s southern coast, where the reclamation of three islands under the controversial PSI project are to take place.
“To ease the issues arising from the island reclamation, the project will be reviewed so its scope can be reduced,” he said.
The PSI project will cover a total of 1,821ha off the southern coast of Penang island between Permatang Damar Laut and Gertak Sanggul.
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