Kuala Lampur, Nov. 8 -- The Penang state government will have to bear all operational deficits for the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) in the early stages, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.

He said a successful transit model like in Singapore depended on the government's support to maintain and upgrade public transport assets.

"The state government will come up with a sustainable public transportation operation model and come up with an appropriate financing model for the capital expenditure and operating expenditure to ensure the LRT service is of quality and its assets are managed in an efficient and safe manner," he said in his winding-up speech at the state legislative assembly today.

Chow said public transport such...