Loke said the Penang LRT project would still be carried out and that the government encouraged Penang residents to make use of the line once it is completed in December 2031.

“Public transport is not going to totally replace cars and private vehicles. Roads and highway systems are here to stay.

“But public transport will complement (roads and highways) and we will encourage more people to use them (public transport),” he said at a press conference here today.

Last week, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the federal government is considering funding the proposed PIL 1 highway under the fifth rolling plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan.

The highway, which received environmental approval in 2019 but never took off due to a lack of funds, is intended to connect Gurney Drive and Bayan Lepas via a 10km tunnel running through the Penang Hill range.

Anil Netto, a member of Penang Forum’s steering committee, previously said the alignment of PIL 1 closely mirrored that of the LRT, raising fears that commuters might opt for cars over public transport.

Earlier, Penang executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari defended the highway proposal, saying it would complement the LRT rather than compete with it, ensuring an integrated transport system that caters to diverse mobility demands.

He said the highway was necessary as Penang’s rapid urbanisation, particularly the southward expansion from George Town, had outpaced the capacity of existing road networks.

Zairil added that the Penang government would submit a fresh environmental impact assessment report with the latest data for review and approval.