Penang island city councillor Chris Lee Chun Kit said the state government could not tell the people to wait for improvements to public transport infrastructure when Penang was already choked with traffic, especially during long weekends and school holidays.
“They don’t want to wait for public transport infrastructure improvements that may not even come,” he told FMT.
Lee, who is also Bangkok Lane DAP branch chief, was commenting on former DAP member and PhD postgraduate Roger Teoh’s suggestion for the Penang government to have a transport master plan that focused more on public transport rather than highways.
Teoh, who is pursuing his doctorate at the Imperial College of London’s Centre for Transport Studies, has been critical of the RM27 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) proposed by the state government.
This is a comprehensive plan that includes light rail transit, monorail and tram lines, a bus transport network and highways but which has been criticised by local civil groups such as the Penang Forum.
Teoh had recently highlighted perceived flaws within the master plan, such as the “Four Stage Travel Demand Model” used to forecast ridership, which he had claimed was unsuitable for long-term projections.
He also said the feasibility studies should have been done by an independent party and not SRS Consortium, the company appointed to build the master plan components.
Teoh said he had raised these issues with DAP, the state government and its think tank Penang Institute, but he was not taken seriously, prompting him to recently resign from the party.
Lee said Teoh must understand the government could not just obey whatever Teoh said based on theories, even though Teoh might have his own findings and done background studies.
He said Teoh might not know the situation on the ground and the inner workings of the government and the system.
Lee said the scholar should also understand the separation of powers between the state and federal governments.
“He can have his public transport master plan without highways. But public transport is under the federal government. It is subject to its approval, and you know there are political differences between the state and federal governments.
“With the traffic situation as it is and the heavy traffic during long holidays, people are demanding relief now.
“Don’t tell me you want to tell the people that the roads won’t be improved, and they have to wait for public transport?
“You want to force them to be stuck in traffic while waiting for public transport infrastructure (projects) that are not even built yet? You can’t.
“That’s the reality on the ground. Scholars have to come down to see the reality on the ground.”
Lee said although he respected Teoh and his ability to speak his views, a political party was where people came together and formed common goals and directions democratically.
“There will not be a party if everyone wants to go his or her own way. If you feel your individual convictions are above the party’s, then you are free to go and even start your own movement.
“The key is whether others will follow you,” he said, adding that it was regrettable that Teoh took a “drastic step” and quit DAP after the state did not accept his suggestions.
“I am sorry it came to that. I feel sad he decided to leave when there is so much he can do from within the party.”
Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the state executive councillor in charge of traffic management, declined comment on Teoh. “I have never seen him before,” he said.
Bagan DAP division chairman Phee Boon Poh told FMT he was waiting to speak to Teoh after he returned to Malaysia for his holidays.