KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is pleading with the Federal government to approve the state government's application to build a third Penang bridge.
He said he wants the Federal government to give a chance to the state to try and implement the project.
"We appeal to the Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to approve the application for the state to build the third bridge.
"The Federal government does not have to spend a single cent. Let us try, at least we tried," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
Yesterday, Lim in a statement, had challenged the Federal government to approve an application to build a third bridge to Penang, following a debate on plans to build a tunnel to the island.
He had said a formal letter will be sent to Fadillah next week to seek the approval of the Federal government to build a bridge from Gurney Drive (island) to Bagan Ajam (mainland).
He had said they were considering making it a toll-free bridge.
Lim had said that there was no reason for the Federal authority not to approve the third bridge as it will be entirely funded by the state government.
He also said this was to meet the needs of users in the next 10 to 12 years.
On Sunday, Fadillah said any applications or proposals for any construction projects will be evaluated based on its own merits as well as long-term costs and benefits to the people.
This, he said may include the Works Ministry requesting the Penang government to submit all relevant documentation related to their request - including three project studies costing RM305 million, which is understood to be completed or nearing completion.