Works Minister Fadillah Yusof expressed surprised that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed the federal government made it difficult for the state to build a third bridge in the state linking its island to the mainland.

“Checks with my ministry have shown no such request, application or even discussions with us to build a third Penang bridge,” he said in a statement tonight.

Lim had made the claim yesterday in response to criticism from Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who ticked off the DAP-led state government’s plan to impose toll for the undersea tunnel to be constructed between Penang island and the mainland.

Lim had said the Penang government had no choice but to build an undersea tunnel, the third link to the mainland, as the federal government had made it difficult for the construction of a bridge.

Fadillah questioned when did Lim ever engage the federal government on the matter.

“Perhaps the chief minister could enlighten us when such requests were made to usand when did our ministry reject the request for a third Penang bridge,” he said.

Fadillah added that even on the undersea tunnel, the Penang government had yet to engage the federal government even though it would require the Works Ministry’s approval.

“It is my wish that the Penang government deals with their own internal Harapan politics or scandals and does not try and use the federal government as a convenient excuse,” he said.