Guan Eng unhappy over late delivery of Second Link - The Star

By Andrea Filmer

PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has expressed disappointment over news that the completion of the Second Link would be delayed.

Responding to reports that the second link would need an extra nine months to be completed, Lim said bridge contractor UEM Builders Bhd had yet to inform the state about the delay.

“All we know is what we read in the newspapers.

“It seems that the promise made by Tan Sri Zaini Omar (the second bridge special task force head) to complete the Second Link by Jan 1, 2011 remains an unfulfilled promise.

“We are very disheartened with the delay and higher costs of the project as in the end, Penangites will be the ones to pay more,” Lim said after visiting the recently resumed Penang Hill funicular railway yesterday.

News reports said the Federal Government had set the cost of the bridge at RM4.3bil over the previous estimate of RM3.5bil.

UEM Builders in a statement to Bursa Malaysia stated that the completion of the bridge would be extended for nine months “in order to allow additional time for fulfilment of the conditions precedent as set out in the agreement”.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/18/nation/20984829&sec=nation]