Gerbang Perdana Selatan Bersepadu has been asked to submit fresh compensation claims in two months, over the aborted half-bridge to replace the Causeway across the Johor Straits.

Works Minister S Samy Vellu will instruct the Public Works Department on Tuesday to approve Gerbang Perdana's request for an extension to furnish documented proof of their initial claim of RM360 million.

"After the two-month period, the PWD will assess Gerbang Perdana's fresh claims and I will submit the assessment report to the Cabinet for further action," said Samy in a New Straits Times report today.

The original deadline was July 11 next week, where Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was initially supposed to announce the quantum of the compensation.

Awaiting A-G's report

The contractor's claim included 712 days of work before the project was scrapped by the government earlier this year.

Samy had previously labeled Gerbang Perdana's RM360 million claim as 'outlandish', a charge with the company denied.

The Auditor-General is expected to submit a report on the matter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) before it meets on July 20.

The controversial half-bridge project, mooted by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was cancelled by his hand-picked successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi just weeks after the construction of the project began.

Abdullah cited cost and protest from Singapore, among other reasons for abrupt cancellation.

However, based on figures churned by the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Works Department, the cost of the cancellation appears to be more than the budgeted amount for the project.