Earlier today, Lim said the PDP model for Sarawak’s portion of the highway cost RM21.9 billion and that other costs incurred in the construction – including land reclamation and costs for consultants and independent engineers – had not been mentioned by those who disputed the figure.

Former works minister Fadillah Yusof last week refuted Lim’s claim that Putrajaya would save RM3.1 billion on Sarawak’s portion of the highway by cancelling an agreement with the PDP and reducing the cost from RM21.9 billion to RM18.8 billion, calling it “misleading and deceitful” as the original target cost for the project was capped at RM16.48 billion.

Najib said today he was “confused” as to how Lim knew the cost of Sarawak’s portion of the highway when Works Minister Baru Bian himself said the sum was not certain yet.

“I think Baru Bian needs to be fired straight away because he failed to calculate the numbers behind this project,” he said on his Facebook page.

“(But) this is even more confusing. Guan Eng and the new chief minister of Pulau Pinang awarded the PTMP Master Plan at a cost of RM46 billion, three times larger than the original cost of Sarawak’s portion of the Pan Borneo Highway, by using a PDP as well.

“Didn’t Guan Eng say the PDP model has many hidden costs and it’s better to use a conventional method? Does the PTMP also have a lot of hidden costs and offsets?” he asked.