Carolyn Khor's blog

Press Statement from Parti Keadilan on Penang Second Bridge 22 June 2010 In March, 2008, YB Sim Tze Tzin revealed a letter written by UEM Managing Director Dato Ahmad Pardas Senin to Director of Economic Planning Unit of Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr. Sulaiman Mahbob. The letter dated August 2007, titled “Projek Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang – Analisa Kewangan” was sent to Parti Keadilan Rakyat by a whistle-blower. There were several main points in the letter. - Concession period 45 years. - UEM requested the Government to provide Soft Loan (GSL) at 4%. - UEM asked as high as RM22,872 million government assistance from the Government including Investment Tax Allowance (ITA), Government Grant, JBIC Loan and Soft Loan. - Construction price was RM4,068 million. - Projected Toll charges would amount to RM7,065 million - Penang 2nd Bridge’s Beginning Toll rate to be RM9.40 (Class 2) with 2% every year till end of concession 2051, to be re...

The 2nd Penang Bridge in Penang connecting Batu Maung in the south-eastern part of the Penang Island to Batu Kawan on the mainland will supercede the existing bridge in being the longest in the country and South-East Asia when completed. Its total length of 23.5km will take approximately 20 minutes to travel across at 80km per hour. In the latest update, the bridge is scheduled for completion in September 2013, after numerous delays. Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong raised questions at the Dewan Rakyat pertaining to the cost of the second bridge which now stands at RM4.5 billion. It was formerly RM4.3 billion in 2008 when the price of oil was at its peak. He further asked for clarifications for an amount of RM20 million which was being allocated for ceremonial duties and RM63.51 million which was for overhead and support expenses. The Prime Minister, Najib Razak in his reply stated that the cost of the bridge had not risen but did not elaborate on the RM83.51 million. He also confirmed ...