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THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has undertaken several new proactive measures to alleviate traffic congestion here in view of the Royal Malaysian Police's contention that some two million vehicles would be here for the holidays.
MBPP, in a statement, said that traffic marshals would be deployed from now until next week, with the focal point being on dispersing traffic along notorious bottlenecks throughout the island.
The congestion is due to the coming Chinese New Year, last-minute shopping to prepare for the Ramadan fasting period and the school holidays.
MBPP has activated an operation codenamed: "Ops Payung", where from Saturday until next Sunday, there would be checkpoints at Penang Road near Chowrasta to Kimberly Street and Keng Kwee Street from 10 am until 5 pm.
The checkpoints are to prevent double parking and to fine road users who flout traffic regulations, especially in the inner city of George Town.
At Bukit Bendara leading to Penang Hill, a similar checkpoint would be erected from noon until 6 pm from Monday (tomorrow) until next Sunday.
The same principle would be applicable in Air Itam, the largest working-class neighbourhood, where five checkpoints would be established from 4 pm until 11 pm.
It has begun and will end next Sunday too.
There would be daily road closures from Lebuh Light to the Esplanade Grounds near Padang Kota to encourage pedestrian movement from 6 pm until 8 pm daily.
The CCTVs, which MBPP has described as their "intelligence eyes", would be locked in on congested areas in town and would monitor them around the clock.
All road works and digging would be halted throughout the school holidays, and a maintenance team would be on standby to address emergencies.
Tourists would be encouraged to use the public transport, especially the free shuttle stage buses by Rapid Penang, while the council and the road transport department (JPJ) would be assisting the traffic police in conducting safety and security patrols. - February 15, 2026.
