Penang Chief Minister To See Second Finance Minister Over Monorail Project

PENANG, April 27 (Bernama) -- Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, will meet Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop to get a clearer picture and the latest developments on the state's monorail project.

"I will not make any statement over the matter just by referring to newspapers or (other) media as two leading (English) newspapers today reported different versions on the matter," Lim told reporters here today when asked to comment on the latest developments on the Penang monorail project.

He said till Sunday there had been no discussions between the state government helmed by the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the federal government on the matter.

Nor Mohamed was reported to have said the federal government would not implement the Penang monorail project if it did not get the state government's cooperation.

He said the project needed the cooperation and approval of the state government as it involved state land.

The RM1.2 billion monorail project is among mega projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan that involves building a 51.2km track to complement the island's public transportation network.

On another matter, Lim said he was frustrated with the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry for stopping annual development funds to state economic development corporations of the five Pakatan Rakyat states.

"I am frustrated with the decision and hope the ministry reconsiders the decision as it involves the peoples of the states concerned," he said.

It was reported Sunday that minister Datuk Noh Omar said his ministry would halt the funds as the states concerned did not cooperate with the ministry and as such it was better that the funds were channelled through Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) for the people's benefit.

-- BERNAMA