Guan Eng raps CAP over project

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has rebuked the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) for criticising the cross-channel tunnel project, saying its president S.M. Mohd Idris did not attend any meetings organised by the state government on the project.

He questioned how Idris could oppose the proposed project “objectively and factually” without hearing the state's side.

But Lim said he would again invite Idris to a meeting so that the CAP's concerns could be addressed.

“Our doors are always open,” Lim said in an open letter to Idris.

Idris had earlier said that CAP was willing to take the lead in starting a campaign against the project if there was enough support.

Slamming the state for pushing through the project, Idris had said it was not a long-term solution to traffic woes but would make Penang “unhealthy and unliveable”.

He had also said the terms agreed for the project were controversial as the builder would get a 30-year concession to collect toll at the tunnel and 44ha of reclaimed land as payment.

Lim said the proposed toll rate for the tunnel would be the same as the second Penang bridge.

He said the decision on toll collection was made as the state did not want to quarrel with the Federal Government by not charging toll.

“(If not,) the Federal Government will have legal grounds to stop the tunnel project by claiming that we are deliberately sabotaging the toll collection for the second Penang Bridge.

“The 30-year toll concession period was given only for the tunnel and not for the other three highway projects, which will be toll-free,” he said.