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Penang must limit car usage now, experts tell Chow

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Anil Netto and Wan Agyl Wan Hassan call for the introduction of a road pricing mechanism and bus lanes to ease congestion in George Town.

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Free Malaysia Today
Penang has one of the highest car ownership rates in the country. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN:
Penang cannot afford to postpone restrictions on car usage until after its LRT system is in place, given the high rate of car ownership in the state, say experts.

Anil Netto and Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said postponing curbs until the LRT becomes operational would only worsen the island’s traffic situation.

They were commenting after Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said it would only be feasible to regulate car use after the Penang LRT, targeted to be ready by 2031, is up and running.

Netto, a member of the Penang Forum, pointed to Kuala Lumpur’s continued struggles with road traffic gridlocks despite the availability of several mass transit options.

“One LRT line is not going to make much of a difference to traffic. Look at Kuala Lumpur. Despite all their rail lines, traffic remains heavy, especially when stations are far from homes. We need to get more people using buses,” he told FMT.

Free Malaysia Today
Anil Netto.

Netto called for renewed investment into bus and ferry services to improve the mass movement of people.

He also lamented the loss of a once-efficient transport hub in Butterworth which saw ferry, bus and train services  converge at a single terminal. The hub has since been replaced by Penang Sentral.

Transport expert Wan Agyl said Chow’s suggestion represented “wrong and outdated thinking”.

He said Penang must act now to prioritise bus usage.

He also said the number of cars entering George Town could be reduced through the introduction of a road pricing mechanism and the creation of dedicated bus lanes.

wan agyl wan hassan
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan.

Wan Agyl said Penang needs to adopt “the stick” approach to force locals to leave their cars at home. He said the state government and local councils must show a willingness to implement such policies.

“It’s not about waiting for the LRT; it’s about starting now with what we already have,” he said.

“The low-hanging fruit is clearly buses. Designated lanes and reliable schedules can make buses function like rail services.”

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the RM13 billion Penang LRT last Saturday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that while modern infrastructure was essential, it should not come at the expense of the state’s cultural identity.

He said the LRT system must reflect and preserve Penang’s heritage and vibrant arts scene.

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