Is the state government serious and sincere in constructing the second bridge link between the Penang island and the mainland? Or, is it merely an election gimmick?

If the Barisan Nasional government is serious in building and completing the second bridge across the southern coast of the Penang Channel by 2011, then the estimated RM3 billion mega project should have taken off by now.

But until today, there is no sign of it.

A check by the DAP revealed that the government had not even started to acquire land, clear the sites or even start piling works to commence the project.

Last November, the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the project would take off by April 2007 and be ready by December 2011.

Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon reiterated this at the State Assembly sitting late last year.

"The CM owes a public explanation on the delay," said DAP state secretary Danny Law Heng Kiang.

The proposed 24km bridge, which includes a 17km elevated sea highway, will be a two-lane dual-carriageway connecting Batu Maung, which is located at the southern part of the island, and Batu Kawan on the mainland.

Penangites have welcomed the bridge as timely and vital to boost the state socio-economic growth, apart from reducing the massive congestion on the present Penang Bridge.

About 110,000 vehicles ply the bridge daily between Batu Uban on the island and Prai.

Investors worried

Over the years, industrialists, especially multi-national companies, have made numerous representations to both the state and federal governments to build the second bridge.

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers northern branch chairperson OK Lee has stressed on numerous occasions that the bridge was vital for the state's economic growth.

Companies operating in industrial areas on either side of the state are concerned about the costly delay caused by the bridge's congestion on the mobility of their staff and transportation of goods.

Investors have been demanding for the second bridge for they do not want to lose their million-ringgit investments not only in Penang industrial zones, but also in Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Sungai Petani and Bukit Minyak industrial zones as well.

While the Penang Development Corporation had acquired and owned most of the land in Batu Kawan, checks revealed that the government had not even earmarked the plots of land to acquire in Batu Maung for the project.

The process to identify then acquire the land before clearing the area in Batu Maung for the project would take months.

Election gimmick?

Law recalled that BN had promised to build the second link in its 2004 general election manifesto.

"Perhaps it is just another BN election gimmick. It seems the promise would remain as one for the next election," he said.

He said the federal government may have compensated the delay in constructing the second bridge by expanding the present four-lane Penang Bridge to a six-lane highway for RM500 million.

"Why must the government spend so much money to expand the present bridge when it needed the money to build a new one?

"Is the government really sincere and serious in building the new bridge?" asked Law.

Law said the delay of the project could see foreign investment move from Penang to other states.

It will also lead to high unemployment and drain-out of professional and skilled manpower.

He noted that the federal government had not spent mega bucks to carry out major infrastructure projects in Penang, compared with neighbouring Kedah and Perak states, for past 10 years.

"The federal government should start the second bridge project immediately. Otherwise, it will cripple Penang's socio-economic growth," he added.