Putrajaya Monorail would be ready by now if privatised: Dr Mahathir

PUTRAJAYA - The Putrajaya Monorail project would be completed by now if only the project was given to the private sector to develop the infrastructure, says former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He claims there were other companies prepared to take over the project even though the matter was not revealed by the government.

"The monorail project in the country is something we can be proud of as it is our own project and not one borrowed from others. It is not someone else’s idea; it's ours.

"I don’t understand why the government didn't proceed with the project as there is already a route for the monorail and even a suspension bridge.

"There were few companies were prepapred to take over the project to develop the project but the government didn't respond to any of them," he said to reporters, here, on Saturday.

The former Langkawi member of parliament (MP) questioned whether the project was delayed because the government during that time didn't want to see the project continue or because it lacked funds to complete the project.

Dr Mahathir gave the example of the North-South Expressway (Plus) which was privatised when the government lacked funds to carry out the project.

"When the government lacked the funds to develop the 800-kilometer road, we gave it to the private sector; thus, today we have the Plus Highway.

"This would work the same with the Putrajaya monorail project. If it’s handed over to the private sector, a tender process will be held to choose the company and see it developed. If this was done earlier, I think it would be ready today," he explained.

The media previously reported, according to the 2021 Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) Series 2, that the postponement of the Putrajaya monorail had caused the city’s integrated transport system to fail, but this has not materialised. It will be a waste if the developed infrastructure is not utilised.

LKAN stated that the delay in the development of the monorail project in Putrajaya had affected the bus service and use of related facilities.

The Putrajaya development project was the brainchild of Dr Mahathir in 1992, it was stopped in 2004, a year after he stepped down.

Sinar on Saturday reported that individuals, especially residents in Putrajaya, urged the government to continue the Putrajaya Precinct 3 monorail project, which began its construction in 2000 but has been abandoned since 2004.

Sinar Harian reported that many people hoped the project would continue.