GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has slammed MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong for questioning whether the cost of the proposed Penang undersea tunnel project alone exceeds RM20 billion.
Chow said the project’s cost is only RM3.6 billion, a figure the state has often repeated despite widespread criticism of the controversial project.
The project is undertaken by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, together with the three paired roads project, bringing the total cost of both projects to RM6.34 billion.
"The state government has been repeating the same figure for the last five years. If a person was in Year One then, one would be in Year Six now and would have memorised the figure. That is not the case for Wee.
"I want to ask him what calculator is he using? Is he merely plucking figures from the sky? I am actually sick and tired of repeating the same thing over and over again but people like Wee and former prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) do not seem to get it," he told newsmen here today.
Wee had via a Facebook post, raised questions over the delay and value of the tunnel project, asking if the actual cost of the tunnel actually exceeds RM20 billion as per his calculations last year.
Chow said the state had also continuously repeated that a 110-acre piece of land in Tanjung Pinang, worth RM1,300 per sq ft, had been given to the company for payment for feasibility and detailed design studies of the paired roads project.
He stressed that the state government had not paid anything to the company for the undersea tunnel project.
"We have been consistent, whether in our discussions, in press statements and even to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), when it was investigating the undersea tunnel project then.
"We also signed a master agreement with the company for the project on Aug 2, and the cost of the projects were maintained at RM6.34 billion," he said, expressing hope that everyone would understand his explanation.
Chow said even with the master agreement signed, the company could not proceed with construction until the construction agreement is signed before the end of next month.
He said the company had obtained the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval for the paired roads project and even obtained the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) approval, a condition in the EIA.
He said the company would first proceed with the construction of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu to Bandar Baru Farlim in Air Itam road project.
"We have asked the company to prioritise the roads project first before the undersea tunnel, and we expect the tunnel's feasibility study to be completed by the end of next month as well," he said.
He added that upon receipt of the feasibility study, the state government would then decide whether to go on with the 30-year tolled tunnel project or a toll-free third bridge, connecting the island to the mainland.
On a separate matter, Chow said the state government had received an application for planning permission for the upgrade and the expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA).
He said it normally takes a little more than three months before any decision is made.
"We will leave the financing part to the federal government and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).
"Our priority is for the upgrade and expansion of the PIA as it has surpassed its capacity. We are expecting to clock in eight million tourist arrivals by the end of this year but the current PIA is built for only 6.5 million.
"It is getting more critical and we hope the upgrade and expansion can be carried out soon," he said when asked to comment on news reports that the proposed Kulim International Airport may have two runways to cater to both cargo and passengers.
To this, Chow said: "We will hold on to Kedah's commitment that the KXP will only be a cargo airport".