00:00Transport consultant Wan Agil Wan Hassan has expressed concerns about the Penang LRT project's
00:07vulnerability to political changes, given Malaysia's history with similar infrastructure
00:11projects like the High Speed Rail and East Coast Rail Link, which faced discontinuations
00:16and renegotiations despite initial binding contracts.
00:20The founder of transport think tank MyMobilityVision said, projects, even at advanced stages like
00:25the HSR and MRT-3, were halted, adding that strong governance is essential for project
00:30continuity regardless of their developmental progress.
00:34He was commenting on Economy Minister Rafizieh Ramli's assurance that the Penang LRT project,
00:39which is approaching the contract award stage and would be costly to cancel, is likely to
00:43proceed even with governmental changes.
00:45However, Wan Agil said the unpredictability of Malaysia's political landscape, which
00:50has seen frequent shifts in power affecting major projects, raising questions about the
00:55Penang LRT's bipartisan support and its vulnerability to future political interference.
01:00Wan Agil advocated for a thorough analysis of the potential consequences of cancelling
01:05the LRT project, which could include job losses, a dip in investor confidence, and setbacks
01:10to urban and environmental goals in Penang.
01:13Meanwhile, Consul Tan from the Centre for Market Education said the project is somewhat
01:18shielded since it is under state government control and highlighted the broader benefits
01:22of the LRT in enhancing living standards and attracting investments.
01:27Dhanusha Dureza, FMT News.
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