The opposition in Penang has questioned the "amazing" speed in which the state government wants to proceed with the construction of a tunnel to link the Island and Province Wellesley.

State BN chief Teng Chang Yeow said that the state had announced the planning and award for the tender to construct the RM8 billion road project yesterday, despite many objections from various quarters.

NONE "Has the study taken into account the traffic volumes generated by the expansion of the Penang Bridge and to be generated by the completion of the second bridge by the end of this year?" Teng ( left ) asked, in a statement.

"Has there been inclusion in the Penang Structure Plan for a tunnel to be built as part of the traffic and road dispenser system?" he queried.

"In a nutshell, has there been a proper planning by the State Authority on such an important infrastructure project?"

Teng was responding to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's announcement yesterday that the tender to build the underground tunnel linking the island to the mainland has been awarded to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd.

The tender includes the construction of the Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road, the George Town inner and outer ring road, and the Air Itam bypass.

NONE Lim ( left ) also announced that the state will exchange 110 acres of Tanjung Pinang reclaimed land with Consortium Zenith for the project.

However, the DAP secretary-general reminded all parties that the details of the plan are still being worked out, and this includes the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.

Teng then questioned why the proposed reclamation at Tanjong Pinang has yet to obtain the EIA approval from the Department of Environment.  

"How could the state government take for granted that the approval will be obtained? What if it’s not granted?

"What if the developer of the reclaimed project fails to deliver the said 110 acres parcel?" Teng asked.

"The state government must come clean on the guarantee provided to the consortium," said the former state exco member.

Teng added that Penangites may have to shoulder a debt of RM8 billion if the guarantee is not made clear by the state government.  

He also wanted to know if the federal government has been informed, and if its approval has been obtained to award the tender to a joint local-international consortium.

Pakatan renegades on its promises

Meanwhile, the state MCA has condemned the Pakatan government for breaking its promises when introducing tolls for the project.

State MCA advisor Koay Kar Huah said that Pakatan had launched a repetition of its policy framework dubbed Buku Jingga, on Monday where they promised to abolish all tolls.

In Penang, DAP had proudly bandied to remove the Sungai Nyior toll, he added.

"However, in announcing the 6.5km undersea tunnel project, Lim informed that one of the four conditions set by the state government was that toll charges must be similar to the second Penang bridge.”

"Doesn’t this announcement directly violate all of Pakatan’s and DAP’s GE manifestos?" Koay queried.

NONE Koay ( right ) said that the DAP-led government is contravening all their vows to the rakyat to dismantle tolls, but that they have actually inserted or allowed it to be in the agreement with the concessionaire.

Koay also pointed out that any land swap related to the project would benefit construction developers.       

"The land swap will benefit the developers who would naturally want the prime land to fetch the highest commercial returns by developing and selling it to the highest strata of society who can afford properties in such a strategic location," he said.

"Considering that affordable housing is beyond the reach of ordinary Penangites, and that the Penang government has not built any low-cost housing, I fear that house prices will continue to sky rocket, thus depriving the destitute and middle classes of a roof over their heads," he stressed.

Koay said, as the concessionaire will profit at length from the land swap, Lim should have negotiated into the agreement that they should absorb all charges associated with the tolls collection.

This way, there would not be any introduction of new tolls into Penang, he added.

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