PENANG Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has called for a public transport policy be drawn up for cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Baru.

He said the policy was needed as more cars were flooding the roads every year.

“The National Car Policy, which encourages each home to have at least a car, will see an increase in cars on the roads.

“In the last five years, Penang has recorded an 11% increase in car registration,” said Dr Koh at a dinner hosted by the state on Monday for senior officers attending the 19th Town and Country Plan-ning Senior Officers Meeting in Penang.

Among those present were Federal Department of Town and Country Planning director-general Datuk Mohd Fadzil Mohd Khir.

Dr Koh also warned that the number of cars in the state would double in seven years.

On another matter, Dr Koh called on planners to ensure whatever development they undertake did not create problems.

“If a project is not well plan- ned and it causes traffic conges- tion and pollution, the cost to redo the damage will be more,” he said.

Dr Koh later launched the Ma-laysia Town Planners Officers As-sociation website.