GEORGE TOWN, March 20 – Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth said today Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had yet to answer many questions pertaining to what it described as a dubious RM6.3-billion integrated infrastructure project, which includes an undersea tunnel from the island to the mainland. Its deputy chief, Shaik Hussein Mydin(Pic), said Lim should provide an explanation so that the people of the state would be convinced of the capability of the DAP-led state government to complete the project.
The project comprises a 4.2km bypass from Gurney Drive to Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, a 4.6km bypass between Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and Bandar Baru Air Itam, a 12km paired road from Jalan Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang and a 6.5km undersea tunnel between the island and Butterworth.
“We want to know who is building the roads, whether there is any political connection, their financial capacity and who are involved in these unheard-of companies.
“We ask the chief minister to answer these questions. I do not understand why he wants to rush the tunnel project before the (next) general election,” he told a news conference here.
The project is said to have been offered to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd, a special-purpose company formed by five companies – Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd and China Railway Construction (which have 70 per cent equity in the company), Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), Sri Tinggi Sdn Bhd and Juteras Sdn Bhd (which hold 10 per cent equity each).
Shaik Hussein, who is Penang Umno Youth chief, said the state government should explain in detail which project would be undertaken by which company to enable the people evaluate their technical and financial capability. He also said that the state government should get all the projects completed before handing over the 44.51-hectare reclaimed land in Seri Tanjong Pinang to the consortium for free for the construction of the mega project.
” The chief minister should specify and not politicise the issue. This is in the people’s interest, and we do not want our land to be taken by a company which may not be able to complete the project,” he said.
BERNAMA
