Penang Transport Master Plan: RM27bil to RM46bil, why?

-
Critics claim that Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) was originally estimated at RM27 billion, before SRS increased it to RM46 billion.

Although many have explained this before, but this wrong info still going around. From this wrong info, critics created other allegations such as the purpose of the increase is to benefit developers or cronies.

Want to find out why the current PTMP estimated at RM46 billion?

Simple, just remember 3 things:

1) SRS Consortium's submitted RM27 billion estimation

Actually SRS proposal submitted for the open Request For Proposal (RFP) tender was not estimated at RM46 billion, but at RM27 billion. This was widely reported back in 2015, when SRS won the bid. 
[https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2015/08/14/gamuda-gets-pdp-job-for-penang-project, http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1521374, https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1846212&page=3]

2) Increase to RM46 billion because of added components

The increase to RM46 billion came because of added components. Most of the added components to cover the 3 districts in the mainland, requested by the Seberang Perai Municipal Council. 
[http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cost-penang-transport-master-plan-balloon-rm46b-says-project-delivery-partner]

Halcrow's RM27 billion report proposed only these for mainland:
i) 2 short tram or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines at Seberang Perai Tengah.
ii) Leverage on existing KTM rail line.

The current version of PTMP (with input from all relevant agencies including the mainland council) planned these for the mainland:
i) 1 monorail (from south Seberang Perai Utara to north Seberang Perai Selatan).
ii) 1 long BRT (from north Seberang Perai Tengah to south Seberang Perai Selatan).
iii) 1 LRT (from island across the canal to mid Seberang Perai Tengah to north Seberang Perai Tengah)

Comparison between Halcrow and current PTMP:

3) RM27 billion was officially and internally known by SRS
The fact that one of SRS' components Gamuda's managing director said that he was not aware of the increase to RM46 billion showed that SRS' submitted proposal was known internally to be only RM27 billion. [http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/gamudas-md-says-unaware-rm27b-penang-transport-master-plan-cost-rm46b]

Summary

The increase from RM27 billion to RM46 billion is not to benefit developers or cronies as alleged by critics.

First, SRS proposal was RM27 billion, same as Halcrow's.

Second, the increase was due to added components mostly for Seberang Perai.

Third, Gamuda's MD being not aware of the increase until after being informed showed that the original SRS proposal was understood internally as RM27 billion.

Popular posts from this blog

BRT expert sweet-talking Penang to install bus system?

-
Image
It was reported that Yoga Adiwinarto, country director of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) in Jakarta had recommended the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for Penang in a presentation organised by Think City yesterday. The ITDP specialises in BRT and their institutional mission is to promote the bus system around the world in that their “specific area of expertise is the bus rapid transit (BRT) and we work to spread knowledge about BRT and provide high-level technical assistance to cities pursuing BRT projects in the US and abroad.” Urban planning expert, Diego Silva Ardila has observed that think-tanks like ITDP “have focused on BRT systems as the only plausible solution for urban transport in the developing world, and have not seriously and rigorously analysed the possibilities that rail-based systems have [...]” Ardila further noted that “the think-tanks and their claims have been deemed biased by the fact that they represented the interests of
Read more

Jobs don't drop from the sky #7

-
Image
Our youth unemployment rate has been rising every year in the past 5 years, from 11% in 2016 to 11.72% last year. Are jobs being produced as fast as our youths grow up? Without jobs, what's our youths' future? Without jobs, how to start a family? Without jobs, how to care for aging parents? These are the questions that Hafiz discussed with me. Hafiz is a graduate with a degree in finance. Most of his cohorts have left Penang to work in KL. "Kawan-kawan struggle cari kerja di Penang, dan memang banyak yang pi KL," he said. Although Hafiz wanted to join them, he as the eldest among his siblings had stay back to care for the family. Unable to get a suitable permanent job, Hafiz ended up as a contract worker for several years. When the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) had job openings, Hafiz applied and got his first stable permanent job. After working for 10 months, Hafiz has saved enough to get married. He and his wife are expecting their first child now. Just before Raya
Read more

Jobs don't drop from the sky #5

-
Image
I will continue to write about real Penangites whose life has been changed for the better because of Penang South Reclamation (PSR). These Penangites are not big-name politicians, their story seldom gets highlighted. Nonetheless, they are Penangites who can now earn a decent living for their family due to the project. Therefore, I think their story deserved to be told. Pak Idris and his grandson, Adam are such Penangites. Idris, 66 years old, has worked as a fisherman for over five decades. Adam, now 23, had been helping his grandpa since his teens. Adam shared about an incident when he was 18 years old working in the sea with his grandpa. That day they met with a thunderstorm. Huge waves were hitting their boat. Idris used all his strength to steer the boat to safety, against the strong currents until the vessel almost broke into two. “Tok perlu lawan sampai bot terangkat tinggi, hampir patah dua." Adam said. “Masa tu, kalau hanyut di laut, pun hanyut lah,” Idris added. Fortunate
Read more