不应展延槟城两大计划 Should not postpone mega projects in Penang

首相阿都拉在国会提呈第九大马计划中期检讨动议获得通过。然而它没有包括先前蓝图的槟城两大计划，即单轨铁道和外环公路。副首相纳吉证实它们不是被取消，而是被展延。

槟城首席部长林冠英对此事反应激动，连环炮轰首相是持着报复的心态。不理性、不负责任和完全没有君子风度，并形容首相是一个出尔反尔的领袖。其实不但槟城人民失望，相信其他不少国人也担心我国的政策常常朝令夕改，会导致人民和外资对领导层失去信心。

大选前首相提呈那么雄伟的第九计划时，让人民对经济前景有所期待。现在如此大幅度变化，怎叫人不相信上次的是为了选票而设的糖果？

这尤其对槟城子民是一个很大的震撼，基于槟城政权已经从国阵易手至民联手中，很自然的，人民必定会猜测这是否政治的报复？我在两个月前到访槟岛一趟，公路非常拥挤，几乎到了饱和状况。但看到两旁的房屋和店铺，夹着中间那扩充得没法再扩充的道路而为槟城担忧。

槟城须提升公共交通设施乃急不容缓的，若上述两大计划还拖下去的话，恐怕不久就整个岛动弹不得的了。如果现在开工，三到五年之间，公共交通四通八达又加上第二大桥，它就是一个新槟城。我认为槟城可以建设非常方便的交通设施，乃是与新加坡作个比较的。这两个都是岛，面积都不大，槟城人民其实可以像新加坡一样不必驾车也可以出入方便的。

我同意林冠英所言，说首相不应该没有跟他商量即如是展延计划。起码首相必须尊重所有的州首长，即使那些州属是由民联执政的。所以希望首相能俯顺民意，重新检讨继续槟城两大计划，免得拖太久费用大幅膨胀，加重国库和人民的负担。

PM Abdullah tabled a motion in Parliament to reveal the Ninth Malaysian plan. But it had excluded the two mega projects which originally were in the blue print, i.e. the Monorail and Outer Ring Road. DPM Najib had confirmed that they were being postponed instead of being shelved.

CM Lim Guan Eng was agitating, and he bombarded PM for suffering from a revengful syndrome. He criticized PM for being irrational, irresponsible and no-gentleman, at the same time describing PM as a fickle-minded person. In fact, not only the Penangites were disappointed, the general public at large were worried that our policies were flippantly changing, and it will affect the faith both of the locals and foreigners in the leadership.

The PM presented such a grand plan before the Gen. Election which resulted in people's great anticipation about national economies. Now with such a vast change, how could you ever stop the people from believing those were not election goodies?

The news came as a shock for the Penangites. Since Penang had switched power from BN to PR, naturally people will suspect whether this was a political revenge? Two months ago I visited Penang, the roads were jam-packed, and they had almost reached the state of saturation. But looking at the two rows of houses and shop-lots which sandwitched the roads that were no way for widening anymore, I was worried.

Upgrading the public transport system is a job that should not be delayed any longer, otherwise we are afraid that it would be unmoved in Penang soon. If we were to commence work now, in 3 to 5 years' time, when the traffic is convenient, added with the completion of the second link-bridge, Penang will be a New Penang then. I believed that Penang could have a good traffic system, as I compared it with Singapore. These both are small islands, so the Penangites are actually able to travel about conveniently without having to drive.

I agreed with Guan Eng that the PM should not go ahead postponing the projects without first consulting him. The PM should at least respect the heads of all states, even though those which are ruled by PR. I hope that PM will submit to the wishes of people, and review his decisions by resuming the two projects in Penang, in order to prevent prolonged postponement which will result in burdens borne by both the treasury and the subjects.