Penang In Talks With Putrajaya To Fund The Bayan Lepas LRT Project

The Penang state government has put a request for proposal (RFP) exercise for its Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (BLLRT) project on hold while it negotiates funding with Putrajaya. Zairil Khir Johari, chairman of the State Infrastructure and Transport Committee, stated that the state has completed the pre-qualification registration exercise, in which companies have already been shortlisted. "We haven't moved forward with the RFP because the federal government has changed, and we are currently in discussions with the federal government to find a new way forward for the project," he told Malay Mail.

He stated that the state is hoping for federal funding for the RM10 billion project. Between July 25 and August 19, last year, the state held a pre-qualification registration exercise for the BLLRT project. The state was supposed to issue an RFP early this year, in which only the companies that were shortlisted in the pre-qualification process would be able to participate.

If they issue an RFP and hire a contractor now, the contractor will have a contractual obligation to complete the project and be paid for it, according to Zairil. "Plans evolve in response to changing circumstances." So, now that we have a friendly federal government, we hope to get some help," he said.