Penang executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow has dismissed as "no issue" the remark made by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tunku Jaafar when he said he does not have "official knowledge" of the undersea tunnel project.

In a statement yesterday, Wan Junaidi had also said that the project has yet to obtain the DEIA (detailed environmental impact assessment) approval from the Department of Environment.

"We have never said we have sent the feasibility study and detailed design for the tunnel project to the ministry," Chow said during a press conference today.

"And if we did not send an application, how can we obtain a DEIA approval for the project?" asked the exco for local government, traffic management and flood mitigation.

"We also do not know why the minister issued a statement about this," he added, while describing Wan Junaidi (photo) as a friend.

Yesterday, Wan Junaidi said the Ministry found out from media reports that the project is now undergoing feasibility studies.

"This is not an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study," he pointed out.

Wan Junaidi said an EIA is only carried out once the feasibility studies have been completed and the project found to be feasible.

Then the approximate details of the project could be presented to the DOE for EIA evaluation, amendment and approval, he noted.

"It is premature to comment on the impact and/or mitigation measures that might have to be taken.

"It is, therefore, not correct to say that the ministry has not approved the EIA as the ministry has no official knowledge of this project," Wan Junaidi said in a statement.

He also reminded that the project will be subject to the terms and conditions of the EIA Order 2015.

This requires the submission and approval of an EIA report to the director-general of Environmental Quality as stipulated under Section 34A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 prior to the implementation of the project.

The project would also require approvals from other agencies under the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry as well as the National Physical Plan Council (NPPC).

Malaysiakini has compiled a detailed guide on the RM6.3 billion project based on the state assembly's report by the Public Accounts Committee, which comprises both BN and Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons.

Meanwhile, Chow said as of December 2017, the feasibility study and detailed design of the project were 95.9 percent completed.

He further explained that the DEIA approval for the three highways linked to the tunnel was obtained on Nov 7.

"It is now being reviewed by the state government for the purpose of implementation and other works," Chow said.

Exco for public works, transportation and utility Lim Hock Seng (photo) echoed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's allegation that there is a possibility that BN leaders are trying to "sabotage" the project in the run-up to the 14th national polls which must be called by Aug 24.

BN leaders have strongly denied the claims, saying that they are raising the issue for the public's interest.

The project comprises a 7.2km tunnel connecting Persiaran Gurney from Penang Island to Bagan Ajam in Seberang Prai on the mainland.

It is currently the subject of a mega-probe by the MACC, which has questioned about 70 individuals and detained five high-ranking officials related to the project which was inked with Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd in 2013.