Penang govt appoints PDP to implement RM27b transport plan

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has appointed a Project Delivery Partner (PDP) to implement the ambitious RM27 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) but is shying away from naming the company.
State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the company was given two weeks to accept or decline the appointment.

He said the identity of the company has to be kept under wraps until the finer details were worked out.

The technical, financial, business model, route layouts and other aspects will be discussed and fine-tuned once the company accepted, a process expected to take about six months, he added.
He said time was needed to see what component or transportation system should be prioritised and did not rule out light rail transit (LRT) and tram systems.
He was also coy when asked about whether the company which won the bid was a local, foreign or a joint venture (JV) company.
"We will not be be announcing the name now," he said in a press conference today with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
theSun had previously reported 11 companies had purchased the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents when they became available in August 2014 with the state shortlisting six firms in February, this year.
Despite the secrecy, Bloomberg TV Malaysia on April 17 cited a Nomura Global Markets Research report that IJM Corporation Berhad, Gamuda Berhad, WCT Holdings Berhard, an unlisted Malaysian contractor and two different Chinese contractors had submitted bids.
The PTMP is a massive effort to create new road networks, improve present carriageways and improving the pedestrian ecosystem.
This also includes significantly upgrading the public transport system by introducing new transport options including trams, a mass rapid transit (MRT) system and water taxis.
Under the PTMP, five new intra-state highways are proposed which includes an undersea tunnel to link the island and the mainland.