Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has accused the federal government of exacting political revenge after the northern state fell into the hands of Pakatan Rakyat in the last elections.

It is this bitterness, he claimed, that has led to the delay of the second Penang bridge project.

lim guan eng pc 270209 Speaking to reporters in Parliament today, Lim said the government should speed up the completion of the bridge so that it could be open to traffic by January 2012.

"One must bear in mind that Penang's growth is crucial for Malaysia's growth because we contribute 30 percent of Malaysia's exports. So I think taking political revenge will not only be bad for Penang but also Malaysia," he added.

He also pointed out that Penang was chosen as one of the 31 outsourcing hubs of the 'future for tomorrow' in international accounting firm KPMG’s report.

Lim, who is also Bagan MP, told reporters this after a question and answer session in the House with Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department SK Devamany, who clarified that the delay was caused by contractors who still did not have access to the construction site in Batu Kawan.

However, the deputy minister said the federal government has fixed a meeting with the Penang state government and five cockle breeders whose operations at the site have to move out to pave way for the project.

"We will give compensation for these businesses before they move out so that the contractors could have access to the site early this month," he said.

The delay of the project, Devamany added, would not hamper the planned completion date which is in May 2012.

Give money to the needy

He also pointed out that the cost of the project will remain at RM4.3 billion although crude oil prices have gone down recently with the help of 'variation of price' for some items.

sk devamany Explaining the recent development on the project, Devamany said the second package of the project (superstructure) has been awarded to UEM Builders Bhd under the final consent from the Second Bridge Company Sdn Bhd (JKSB).

Meanwhile, the third package (land highway) projects will be tendered openly in the middle of 2010 and as of now JKSB is in the midst of preparing the tender documents.

In the same question and answer session earlier, Barisan Nasional backbenchers argued that the money allocated for the project should be given to needy people in rural areas instead.

bung moktar radin Bung Mukhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) said the money should be dispersed to those in his constituency and other rural areas in Sarawak.

"They are very grateful to the government but it was very hard for them to even get roads. What is the use of the second Penang bridge? I suggest that the government review this decision and cancel it if they can. We don't need this mega project. We need development projects in rural areas," he added.

Devamany, who agreed with Bung Mukhtar, however said if the government was to scrap the project, it would have a major impact on hundreds of sub-constructors and thousands of workers.

"With these two packages, it shows that the government still cares for the people and should be the main agenda for our social safety net," said the deputy minister.