So now, the so-called "emotional" Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) has been revealed by the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, where it was also announced that he would be heading a high-level task force to monitor the implementation of the 9MP, with assistance from his deputy Najib Tun Razak.

The 9MP report, themed "Together Towards Excellence, Glory and Distinction" spelt out policies and key programmes aimed at fulfilling the mission’s thrusts and objectives for the 2006-2010 period, in which the first five years of the 15-year blueprint, dubbed the National Mission, will see a big increase in development expenditure and the plan is focused on spreading wealth and growth across the country.

The five key thrusts are:

• to move the economy up the value chain;
• to raise the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nurture ‘first class mentality’.
• to address persistent socio-economic inequalities constructively and productively.
• to improve the standard and sustainability of quality of life
• to strengthen the institutional and implementation capacity.

As I was on the road during the annoucement, I called up a few bloggers for the latest update. While some of them are skeptical, some are pretty joyful, especially Penangites.

What’s more we Penangites can ask for? A second-link connecting Batu Kawan on the mainland and Batu Maung on the island, a Light Monorail Transit (LMT) project which will link George Town to Bayan Lepas in the South and Tanjung Tokong in the North, as well as the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project, that was approved earlier.

However, in the midst of feeling grateful towards the "promised present", I’m questioning the decision to build a second link. I’m sure PM, Works Minister S Samy Vellu and Penang chief minister Koh Tsu Koon should have realised that, it doesn’t matter how many bridges you’re going to build, the jam on the bridge will stay as cars ownerships among Penangites, are increasing tremendously.

It’s no more than a fire-fighting solution, to give away Penangites the "feel good factor". Instead of the proposed second link, a monorail system connecting mainland and island should be built, rightaway connecting to the proposed LMT on island, where mainlanders are able to board the LMT to their destinations while islanders working on mainland Seberang Perai can be  carried away by a comprehensive feeder bus system, in line with the Government vision to encourage the usage of public transport.

Sooner or later, Penangites will shout again, for an "even-worse bottleneck" jam.

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