GEORGE TOWN, July 11 -- Penang is targeting to be Malaysia's first state to use energy-efficient lamps for all street lighting by next year at a cost of about RM75 million, state exco Jagdeep Singh Deo said today.

The local government, housing development and town and country planning committee chairman said the complete change to low-consumption LED lights by 2020 was also part of the state's environmental agenda.

"The state will be spending about RM40 million to replace 17,542 existing street lights on the island to LED lights by 2020," he said.

Over in Seberang Perai, a total 14,054 existing lamps will be refitted for an estimated RM35 million, he added.

Penang has 105,813 street lights in total, with 34,104 on the island and the r...