GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is on a one-day working visit to Penang today, with the main event being the groundbreaking ceremony for the Traffic Dispersal Project between the Juru Toll Plaza and the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, is scheduled to attend the event at the Seberang Jaya Expo Site in Bukit Mertajam at 9am to officiate the groundbreaking ceremony.
The project is expected to benefit 200,000 daily users by reducing congestion along the route.
The traffic dispersal project is among the key initiatives for Penang and the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia announced by the prime minister in the 2025 Budget on Oct 18 last year, alongside the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT), the expansion of the Penang International Airport and the Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3.
After the groundbreaking ceremony, the prime minister is scheduled to continue his visit to the Karyawan Nordin Ahmad Gallery at SK Permatang Pasir and officiate the Madani Arowana Mosque in Permatang Pauh.
He will then attend the ‘Komunivesiti Kolaboratif’ programme in his hometown, Kampung Cherok Tok Kun.
His working visit to the Pearl of the Orient will conclude with the launch of the Seberang Perai Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), located at the Penang Sentral building in Butterworth.
It is the 24th UTC in Malaysia and the second in Penang after the Komtar UTC.
The Seberang Perai UTC is also listed as one of the initiatives announced by in the 2025 Budget, in line with the government’s aspiration to strengthen public services at the urban community level.
Anwar arrived at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas last night and was received by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Penang police chief Datuk Azizee Ismail and state government leaders.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
