YAN: The Kedah government is unperturbed by the prejudiced remarks against the plan to carry out studies on a proposed Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system in Langkawi.
State Tourism, Culture and Entrepreneur Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Salleh Saidin said all the negative remarks against the plan were just the critics' opinion.
He said the plan demonstrated the state government's determination in developing Kedah's tourism jewel.
"Actually it is a noble effort by the state government by collaborating with a company to carry out studies on the possibilities to develop a public transport service in Langkawi, one of the world's popular tourism destination.
"If anyone wishes to criticise or belittle the idea, it is up to them but for us, it shows the state government leadership's determination to do our best in developing Kedha tourism sector to the highest level," he told reporters at the Kedah Mango Fiesta 2024 at the state Sala Mango Centre here today.
On Tuesday, state Industry and Investment, Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah witnessed a MoU signing ceremony between state-owned Permodalan Kedah Bhd (PKB) with South Korea's Royal Eco Train Development (RETD) to study the development of a LRT system in Langkawi.
In response, Kedah Umno Information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin has argued that the project would not solve the island's tourism struggles.
Instead, he urged Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to prioritised addressing the root causes and real issues in Langkawi, such as water shortages and the high cost of tourism.
Commenting further, Salleh said the proposed LRT project would be an additional attraction for Langkawi.
"It is still in the study phase, we don't know what will be the outcome but if the proposed LRT is materialised, it will be a new attraction for Langkawi. We welcome the cooperation with the South Korean company.
"This is an initiative under the Menteri Besar administration and the people should support it," he said.
