Wednesday October 22, 2008
Penang bridge project may be delayed again, says Lim
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s plan to leave office in March next year may further delay the completion of the second Penang Bridge project, said Lim Guan Eng (DAP - Bagan).
The project, scheduled to start construction next month was deferred to end of 2011, he said.
“Penang needs the bridge and the state government is worried that the Prime Minister’s departure may cause more delay. Now it is already delayed for a year,” he said this while debating Budget 2009.
Lim said China Harbour had agreed to start building the foundation in November while UEM disagreed with the quoted price.
The government had offered the project to UEM for RM1.3bil but the latter asked for RM1.5bil, he added.
“With UEM enjoying close ties with political parties, it should be accepting the offer price,” he said, adding that if UEM can’t accept the offer, an open tender should be called quickly.
Earlier, Lim proposed to counter the global financial crisis with fiscal and monetary measures to create a multiplier effect to boost the economy.
He said corporate tax should be reduced from 25% to 17% while those with a household income of less than RM6,000 a month should be given RM6,000 a year to ease their burden.
Petrol price should also be revised daily and the electricity tariff should be reduced as the tariff was increased when the petrol price was US$124 per barrel.
Lim also disapproved the withdrawal of windfall tax on the Independent Power Producers (IPP), adding that one should look for alternative ways to raise funds.
“Go to the Middle East, they have plenty of money and are ready to give loans,” he said, when Khairy Jamaluddin (BN €“ Rembau) interjected saying that the bond market in the country was affected if windfall tax on IPPs continued.
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