BN strategic director Abdul Rahman Dahlan was ticked off today for not willing to accept Penang's clarification on the RM27 billion Transport Master Plan (TMP).

Penang executive councillor Lim Hock Seng said it is clear that the federal minister has refused to accept any clarification from the state government.

"The response to Rahman was issued not as a personal statement by me or Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng; they are official remarks from the Penang government," Lim said at a press conference in George Town today.

He was responding to Rahman's recent comment that Lim had chosen not to respond to him directly about the questions he raised about the undersea bed tunnel linking Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam, Butterworth.

Lim lamented that despite detailed clarification made on May 9 and 12, Rahman has refused to understand the matter.

He said it was regrettable that Rahman has not taken up the Penang government's offer to view all the documents related to the tunnel and TMP.

Instead of viewing the documents himself, Rahman wants the state to allow NGOs like the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, Chant Awareness and Consumers Association of Penang to see the materials.

"This clearly shows Rahman only wants to launch a personal attack against the chief minister," Lim (photo) said.

"By not taking up our offer to view the documents himself, Rahman is not interested in the truth nor does he want to find answers to his questions," Lim added.

"As for the NGOs, we have never prevented any groups from viewing the documents; they can apply for them via the Freedom of Information Act," Lim stressed.

Guan Eng's challenge to Putrajaya

Meanwhile, in his statement yesterday, Rahman noted that the Penang state government's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the Penang tunnel project has been twice delayed.

He observed that this had led to an angry outburst and thumping of table by a PKR assemblyperson during the recent Penang state legislative assembly sitting which may provide clues as to the reasons for this sudden decision to drop the tunnel project in favour of a third bridge.

He was referring to Guan Eng's (photo) challenge to Putrajaya to approve Penang's request to build a third bridge linking the island to Seberang Perai North.

Guan Eng said he was wiling to forgo the tunnel for a third bridge, if the latter was approved by the federal government.

"Penang PAC members have access to the report and all the documents, there is nothing to hide," Lim said.

"PAC members need time to review the documents and it will be tabled at the next state assembly sitting (in November)," Lim added.