GEORGE TOWN: The land along Sungai Pinang allocated for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project was not originally designated for affordable housing projects, says Chow Kon Yeow.
The Chief Minister said the land was originally designated for a school.
"We have discussed this with the education department as that location has been identified as a location for the LRT station.
"If the LRT station is built there, the remaining land will not be enough to build a school.
"We have spoken to them (education department), but it is not land designated for affordable housing projects," he said when speaking to the press after the civil servants gathering event held at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town on Tuesday (Jan 7).
Chow was responding to questions about the original plans for the land in Sungai Pinang after it was queried by Gerakan.
Meanwhile Chow who attended a meeting with the Finance Ministry on the Penang LRT Mutiara Line project on Monday (Jan 6) said the purpose of the meeting was to hear the presentation by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) on the contract and the tender selection.
"I will let the (Transport) ministry announce the details.
"The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Saturday (Jan 11).
"It is in no particular station location as those are mostly by the road.
"The place that was chosen for the ceremony needed to be appropriate and have enough space.
"While there is no special significance in holding the ceremony in a location with space," he said.
Chow shared earlier in his speech that he hoped the Federal Government would consider the various projects needed by the state.
"This year, the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12) will enter the Fifth Rolling Plan (RP5) for 2025,
"There were a total of 10 priority projects which were on our wishlist.
"Of the 10, two were rejected while eight are being considered by the Economy Ministry.
"I hope that our extended family at the federal level looks into the projects needed for Penang as they are significant projects such as road construction, coastal erosion structures, and the construction of health clinics, among others," he said.
Chow said the list of projects includes the construction of an underpass connecting Mount Erskine Road to Burma Road at the Mount Erskine Road, Gottlieb Road, Burma Road, and Bagan Jermal Road junction, a health clinic in Bayan Lepas, and the Sungai Juru Conservation Project in Seberang Prai, among others.
It was reported earlier this week that Transport Minister Anthony Loke was quoted as saying that the Mutiara Line LRT project would begin this year.
The project would start from Silicon Island and head north to the other stations – namely Permatang Damar Laut, Penang International Airport, Sungai Tiram, South Free Industrial Zone, Free Industrial Zone, Jalan Tengah, Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Bukit Jambul, Sungai Nibong, Sungai Dua, Batu Uban, Jalan Universiti, Gelugor, Penang Waterfront, East Jelutong, Sungai Pinang, Bandar Sri Pinang, Macallum Street and Komtar.
Those from the mainland can also travel to the Macallum Street station from the Penang Sentral station.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday (Jan 11).
