Media statement by Steven Sim, MP for Bukit Mertajam
28 NOVEMBER 2020 | BUKIT MERTAJAM, PENANG
Federal Government’s cancellation of RM2 billion loan guarantee for Penang LRT is a disappointing, despicable act of political vendetta against the state and people of Penang.
The federal government’s announcement to cancel the RM2 billion loan guarantee for the development of Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Penang is a disappointing, despicable act of political vendetta against the state and people of Penang. The said loan is to be secured from Asian Development Bank (ADB), a reputable regional development financial institution. The state of Penang is not asking for a loan or money from the federal government for this project, a federal loan guarantee is the least that the federal government can do for Penang.
A public survey has shown that 97.7% of respondents in Penang wanted LRT for the state. The then-Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government had agreed on the loan guarantee to develop Penang according to the need of the state and the aspiration of the people.
In the 2021 Federal Budget, RM15 billion was allocated for:
– Pan-Borneo Highway
– Gemas-Johor Bahru Electrified Double-Tracking Project
– Klang Valley Double Tracking Project Phase One
– Rapid Transit System Link from Johor Bahru to Woodlands, Singapore
– MRT3 in Klang Valley
On top of these, it was recently announced that the federal government will develop a monorail system in Putrajaya and fund the RM6 billion-transit system in Kuching under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
While multibillion-ringgit transport projects are being funded by the PN administration in other states, Penang’s loan guarantee was disappointingly cancelled. This is despite Penang being the second highest tax contributor to the country.
I urge the federal government to reinstate the loan guarantee or alternatively, to fully fund the Penang LRT project.
Steven Sim Chee Keong
Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam
大山脚国会议员沈志强媒体文告
2020年11月28日| 槟州大山脚
联邦政府取消为槟城轻快铁工程提供的20亿令吉贷款担保，是针对槟州及槟州人民的，令人失望且可耻的政治报复行为。
联邦政府宣布取消对槟城轻快铁工程的20亿令吉贷款担保，这是针对槟州和槟州人民的，令人失望且可耻的政治报复。 上述贷款将由著名的区域开发金融机构，亚洲开发银行（ADB）提供。 槟州政府并没要求联邦政府为该工程提供贷款或拨款，联邦政府为工程做贷款担保是联邦政府最起码可以为槟州做的事情。
一项公开调查显示，槟州有97.7％的受访者希望兴建轻快铁。 当时的希盟政府同意做贷款担保，以满足槟州发展需要和人民的期望。
在2021年财政预算案中，150亿令吉分配给：
–泛婆罗洲大道
– 金马士– 新山双轨电气化铁路
–巴生谷双轨铁道项目第一阶段。
–马新捷运系统
–巴生谷MRT3
最重要的是，最近宣布联邦政府将在第十二马来西亚计划下，在布城兴建单轨系统，并为古晋的60亿令吉公交系统提供资金。
当国盟政府为其他州属的交通工程注入数十亿令吉的资金，槟州的贷款担保却令人失望地取消了。 尽管槟州是我国第二高的税收贡献州。
我呼吁联邦政府恢复贷款担保，或者全额资助槟城轻快铁工程。
沈志强
大山脚国会议员