KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he is willing to meet and fully acquaint Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof with a proposed third link connecting the island to the mainland.
He was responding to Fadillah’s statement last week questioning the state’s delay in submitting a feasibility study on an underwater tunnel project despite previous announcements promising to do so.
“In seeking to look forward, the Penang state government is willing to meet with Fadillah next week to brief him fully on the facts, furnish any information required as well as welcome any Works Ministry professional expertise to assist Penang,” he said in an emailed statement.
Pakatan Harapan Penang is attempting to get Putrajaya’s approval to build a third bridge as a cheaper and more efficient alternative link to connect the island and the mainland.
Lim blamed the delay in the stalled tunnel feasibility study on incomplete sea reclamation works at Butterworth on the mainland as awarded by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) state government to Rayston Consortium Sdn Bhd in 1999.
“Without the Butterworth sea reclamation masterplan, the feasibility study cannot be completed unless they take into account the hydraulic flow data and road network on the reclaimed land,” Lim said.
The state government has said it is willing to finance the cost for the third bridge on its own and also make it a toll-free bridge.
The state however is seeking an approval in principal from Putrajaya for the third bridge so that it does not waste funds in preparing drawings and designs.
