Penang to go ahead with tunnel if DAP is re-elected

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP-led state government will go ahead with the proposed undersea tunnel if re-elected.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the rocket DAP's symbol represented courage, progress and unity and that the party would stand by its vision for the benefit of future generations.

“We dare to make policies for the future Penangites, including building the country's first undersea tunnel.

“Some people do not agree with the project but we must think of our children we must be courageous enough to do this for them,” he said.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said certain people had questioned whether it was wise to discuss the undersea tunnel project during the general election period.

“We do not hide. DAP is different from other parties, we are not afraid of the truth.

“We do not want to wait until after the election to talk about the tunnel because then people will ask why we did not disclose our plans earlier,” he said during the launch of a 10m-tall replica of a rocket in Air Putih.

The 6.5km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel is part of a RM6.3bil mega package comprising the 4.2km Gurney Drive-Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Bypass, the 4.6km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu-Bandar Baru Air Itam Bypass and a 12km road connecting Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang.

On the Segamat parliamentary seat, which had traditionally been contested by DAP before it was given to Johor PKR chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng, Lim said it was “a result of negotiations”.