Progress in Penang, at last! Up until the middle of last year any progress in Penang that required finance was difficult. The government in KL was held by a different party than the party that held power in Penang. But after the election last year where now both the Penang state and federal government are the same party we thought that the improvement projects that had been on hold for so many years would at last be implemented. It has taken a while, but now things are happening.
New transport
Work should have already started on the Ayer Itam -to the coastal road bypass. It is scheduled to finish in three years.
There is also a proposal to build a cable car from the Penang Botanical Gardens to Penang Hill, and on to Teluk Bahang. This would be partly funded by the federal government. This is currently being studied.
Progress in Penang is being held back by traffic congestion. There is an article about a proposal to build an underpass in Pulau Tikus.
Gurney Wharf handover
On October 7th, I just learnt, the first eight acres of the 131-acre reclamation project land was handed over to the Penang government. From now every one or two weeks further small sections will be received by the government, with the handover completed by mid-September next year. The Chief Minister of Penang estimates that it will take about 18 months for the first phase to be ready and open to the public. It was unclear to me when that 18 month preparation period would start.
