The actual cost for the feasibility studies for the three highways and an undersea tunnel to link Penang Island with Butterworth is RM51.269 million and not RM305 million as claimed by BN strategic director Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

“The real cost is a mere 0.93 percent of the total construction costs, which come to RM6.341 billion,” Penang state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng said today.

The costs of the feasibility studies for the three highway projects is RM31.269 million and that for the undersea tunnel is RM20 million, Lim said.

“This amount (RM305 million) includes the cost for the feasibility study, environment impact study and detailed design, while the overall cost of construction for the three highway projects and undersea tunnel is RM6.341 billion,” Lim told a press conference.

“The total cost is appropriate and has been compared with the ‘scale of fees’ guidelines of local and international professional bodies, such as the Board of Engineers (BEM), Persatuan Akitek Malaysia, Institute of Surveyors Malaysia, Project Management Institute, US Department of Transport, Road Tunnel Guideline, Treasury Unit, Economic Planning Unit and the Prime Minister’s Department,” he added.

Lim said Rahman Dahlan wants to sabotage the state government and see the failure of the three highway and undersea bed tunnel projects by making these baseless claims.

Umno rep member of accounts panel

He said the projects were beneficial to the people and Rahman’s claims were nothing new as they have been answered in the Penang legislative state assembly in the past, and most were reported in the press.

“Rahman (photo) did not follow the news, and so he thought this was something new,” Lim said.

He added that Pulau Betong assemblyperson Muhammad Farid Saad of Umno is a member of the Public Accounts Committee, and the matter has been raised and answered during the meetings.

“Farid was satisfied with the answers during the PAC meetings but after he left the room, it seem as if he did not hear any of our explanation,” Lim added.

“It is easy for them to lodge reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission but it is our officers who have to be questioned; it is a waste of time when we are open about these matters,” he said.

“Anyone can also apply for this information under our Freedom of Information Act.”

Rahman had demanded that the Penang government explain the staggering sum of RM305 million, which he claimed was merely for paperwork and reports.

Rahman also raised the point of conflict of interest as the company - Consortium Zenith BUCG - awarded to construct the projects was also the one doing the study and preparing the reports.

He also asked why RM139 million was disbursed for an incomplete job and why seafront properties worth RM6 billion were being given to the consortium as part payment.

Lim said the state government only paid the consortium RM135 million and not RM139 million as progressive payment and this was for the completed designs, not advance payment as claimed by Rahman.

So far, he added, the project has engaged18 consultants and 154 professionals who are involved in the various studies.