Zainal said this in response to Lim’s claim that he would “show proof” that Samy Vellu had proposed a bridge between George Town and Butterworth before.
“It must be reminded that the undersea tunnel was also proposed by Samy Vellu when he was Works Minister,” Zainal said in a statement today.
Zainal also asked the Penang Government how much in penalties it would have to pay to the contractor if it axed the tunnel project.
He also questioned the state government on the status of the 110-acre land used as “payment” to finance the undersea tunnel project if it was axed and replaced with a bridge.
“Will Zenith BUCG (tunnel contractors) be given the contract to build the third bridge if the Federal Government gives the go-ahead?
“Will the reclaimed land at STP2 and Gurney Drive foreshore be used as payment for the ‘third bridge’?
“More pertinently, why did Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng have a sudden change of heart on the undersea tunnel?”
Lim had said the undersea tunnel had to be built as building a bridge across the channel would require the Federal Government’s permission.
He said since there was a lot of opposition to the tunnel project from BN lawmakers, Penang would build a bridge on its own — provided Putrajaya gave the nod.
Lim also said the third bridge project was proposed by the Works Ministry itself and there should not be a problem allowing it.
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