GEORGE TOWN, September 27 – Recently, reports in the mass media once again raised the issue of the undersea tunnel project which is part of the Three Major Highways and Undersea Tunnel Project in the state of Penang. Although the State Government has given many explanations on the details of projects that have been awarded through open tenders in 2012, there are still many misrepresentations of facts by irresponsible parties.
To clarify once again, the cost for the feasibility study and detailed design of the four packages (three highways and an undersea tunnel) amounted to RM305 million. However, only RM208 million has been paid through the ‘land exchange’ method to the Zenith Construction Consortium (CZC) contractor for a feasibility study and detailed design for the three highways only. No payment has been made for the tunnel under the seabed because the feasibility study has not yet been received and approved by the State Government.
The latest status, feasibility study has been completed and will be presented to the State Government Council Meeting as soon as all comments from technical agencies including Federal agencies are received. With regard to the proposal to replace submarine tunnels with bridges, at this point, the feasibility study conducted by CZC is for submarine tunnels only and not for bridges. Although the State Government has not ruled out the possibility of building the bridge as a third link, it has not yet been considered. Any consideration will only be made after the feasibility study is formally presented to the State Government.
