Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Air Putih) expressed regret that there was a federal minister who condemned the Penang government for planning to impose toll on the undersea bed tunnel linking the island to Butterworth.

Lim was referring to BN strategic director Abdul Rahman Dahlan who had bombarded the Penang government with several questions regarding the undersea tunnel and three highways, which are part of the RM27-billion Transport Master Plan.

“I regret that they criticised the Penang government when BN is the champion of tolls,” Lim said during his winding-up speech at the state legislative assembly today.

“I would like to state that the Penang government has no choice but to build the tunnel when it has been difficult for us to obtain approval to build a third bridge,” Lim added.

Challenges Putrajaya to build third bridge

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, then threw down the gauntlet at Putrajaya by challenging it to build a third bridge in Penang.

He said the state was willing to forsake the plan to build the RM6.3 billion tunnel if Putrajaya was willing to fund the construction of a third bridge.

“Is the federal government willing to do this?” Lim queried, adding that "this must come with the condition that the third bridge is free of tolls”.

Penang opposition leader Jahara Hamid (photo) (BN-Telok Ayer Tawar) asked Lim if he had ever applied for a third bridge before.

She informed that there was a plan to build a bridge at the North Channel in the past.

“However, there were concerns that it would disrupt port operations in Butterworth, among others,” Jahara said.

This gave Lim the opportunity to shoot back: “Well, the former BN administration's promises have remained only promises."

The entire cost for the three highways and undersea bed tunnel linking Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam on the mainland is RM6.341 billion and expected to be completed by 2025.