Good news for Penang and visitors or tourists planning to go there for a holiday. You will be able to hop onto a monorail to tour around the Penang Island soon! Read the news articles below for more information.

———————–

Monday May 21, 2007

Penang monorail project to kick off early next year

BY DERRICK VINESH

PENANG: The RM1.2bil Penang monorail project will be implemented early next year, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said.

He said the state was now actively working out the project details with Syarikat Prasarana Nasional Berhad (SPNB) and hoped to complete them by December.

“Three local companies have so far submitted their proposals to carry out the monorail project in Penang.

“But, we want to first determine the monorail alignment before picking the company to do the job,” he told reporters at the fourth sitting of the 11th state legislative assembly here Monday.

Dr Koh said SPNB was still negotiating with the state and federal governments on the project alignment and the necessary stations.

He said SPNB would assess the proposals by the three companies to determine which was more suitable and if the proposal met the needs and demands of the people.

Asked if there would be a monorail link between the island and mainland, Dr Koh said there were no immediate plans for that.

“It will not be something that will be carried out in the first and second phase of the project.

“It will be very costly to have a monorail link between the island and mainland.

“Besides, the distance will be too long and we will not be able to have a mid-station there,” he said.

Dr Koh said such a link might be considered in the future if there were a high number of passengers using the monorail. - THE STAR

______________

PENANG MONORAIL PROJECT BEGINS NEXT YEAR

PENANG, May 21 (Bernama) — Work on the RM1.2 billion Penang monorail
project will begin next year and is expected to be completed in three
years, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said.
He said negotiations were in progress between the state government and
Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (SPNB) on the alignment of the monorail,
with the decision expected to be finalised by the year-end.
“SPNB will also assess the monorail system proposed by several
interested companies,” he told reporters after the opening of the state
assembly sitting today.
He said the selection of the company for the mega project would be made
only after the decision on the alignment for the monorail was made.
“There are three proposed alignments and we are looking at all of
them,” he added.
Among the companies bidding for the project are Malaysian Resources
Corporation Bhd, Melewar Industrial Group Bhd, Metrail Holdings, Penang
Port Sdn Bhd and UEM Group.
The monorail project is among two mega projects in Penang announced by
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year. The other is the
Second Penang Bridge.
— BERNAMA