Lim ready to accept Fadillah's offer on undersea tunnel project

GEORGE TOWN: The state government is ready to accept Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof's offer to work with them on the proposed undersea tunnel project.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pix) welcomed the federal government's initiative and said he would write to the ministry soon for a meeting to discuss the project.
Lim said he did not doubt Fadillah's sincerity, but said he hoped the ministry would give the green light for the project to proceed.
"I hope approval is given first," he said at a press conference today.
Lim was responding to reported comments by Fadillah that the ministry is yet to receive details of the feasibility and detailed design studies for the RM6.3 billion project.
Lim explained that the ministry can give the go-ahead for the project first while the details will be submitted later.
He added that other ministries could give approval in principle within 24-hours and detailed designs could be discussed later.
"We need approval in principle," he said, adding the cost for detailed designs for the proposed bridge could come up to millions.
On Fadillah saying the state was delaying completion of the project's feasibility studies, Lim said it was due to the delay in the land reclamation masterplan.
In another development, Lim dismissed claims that development on the mainland was neglected by the state government.
He cleared the air by saying that projects worth RM300 million had been completed since the opposition took over the state government in 2008.
Lim added that RM182 million was meant for the mainland while the remaining was for island projects.
"This clearly shows development projects are also concentrated on the mainland," he said.