By Joshua Woo Sze Zeng (State Assemblyman for Pulau Tikus, Penang)
31 October 2025
The Penang LRT project is finally taking shape under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Unfortunately, PAS, Bersatu, and several anti-development groups continue to politicise this long-awaited initiative. Yet, throughout these debates, Minister Anthony Loke has consistently defended the LRT as a vital project for the people of Penang.
It is therefore disheartening to see MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon joining this familiar chorus of misplaced criticism, casting doubt on the project based on five arguments riddled with misunderstanding.
(Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2025/10/30/weighing-in-on-penang-lrt-five-key-areas-to-examine)
Let us address them one by one.
- Spillover Benefits
Dr Mah questions the LRT’s ridership projections and cost recovery plan. This reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of public transport infrastructure.
The LRT is not a profit-making venture; it is a public good designed to reduce congestion, improve mobility, and enhance quality of life. Except for Hong Kong’s unique “Rail + Property” model (which depends on steep land price escalation) almost all rail systems worldwide are not profit-driven.
Moreover, the Penang LRT will generate enormous economic spillover effects: it will create thousands of jobs, stimulate businesses along the corridor, and inject billions into the local economy during construction.
- Route and Ridership Demand
Dr Mah’s doubt about the route selection reflects a lack of understanding of Penang’s geography and daily traffic patterns.
The LRT line connects key high-demand locations: Penang International Airport, the Free Industrial Zone, Universiti Sains Malaysia, SPICE Convention Centre, Komtar, and Penang Sentral. It will also serve dense residential areas such as Bayan Baru, Batu Uban, Sungai Pinang, Jelutong, and Macallum.
This alignment was chosen precisely because it serves the high mobility demand in these areas.
- Financing and Fiscal Responsibility
Dr Mah questions the sustainability of the project’s financing. Here again, context matters.
Penang contributes between RM8 billion and RM10 billion annually to federal revenue through taxes. The LRT’s cost of RM16.8 billion is roughly equivalent to just two years of Penang’s contribution.
Penang deserves federal investment in return for what it has long given to the nation. This is fair reinvestment in the state’s growth.
- Connectivity and Integration
Dr Mah claims the LRT lacks coherence with “existing bus services, ferry routes, or Penang Sentral”. This is factually incorrect.
The Penang LRT has been designed to integrate with the Penang International Airport, Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal, Komtar Bus Terminal, and Penang Sentral, which links to KTM rail and ferry services.
This multi-modal integration is the foundation of a modern, connected transport ecosystem for Penang.
- Constructive Politics and Public Interest
Finally, Dr Mah accuses Minister Loke of “political zeal rather than professional restraint”. On the contrary, it takes professional conviction to advance a complex, long-delayed infrastructure project that will benefit people.
The facts are clear: The LRT will deliver economic spillovers, serve a high-demand corridor, cost less than two years of Penang’s tax contribution, and strengthen Penang’s transport connectivity.
To oppose such a project is to ignore both evidence and the public interest.
In a moment when Malaysia needs forward-looking, fact-based leadership, it is disheartening to see outdated political reflexes resurface. The people of Penang deserve better, and we deserve progress.
END