TTF: On the 1st of June 2016, the Public Works Committee Chairman for the state of Penang, Lim Hock Seng, told reporters that the total Cost for Feasibility Study (CFS) and Cost for Detailed Design (CDD) for the multibillion undersea tunnel project was pegged at RM96.2 million. The project involves the construction of three paired roads, the cost breakdown of which is as follows:
Three main roads project:
Feasibility study: RM31.2 million
Detailed design: RM177.4 million
Overall: RM208.7 million
Undersea tunnel:
Feasibility study: RM20 million
Detailed design: RM76.2 million
Overall: RM96.2million
Grand Total: RM304.9 million
A year later, on the 22nd of May 2017, the same Hock Seng told a state legislative meeting that a total of RM219.99 million had been paid exclusive of the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA), the breakdown of which is as follows:
Payments made (According to Lim Hock Seng on 22/5/2017):
Payment to Consortium Zenith (not inclusive of DEIA): RM208.75 million
Payment to independent consultant: RM11.23 million
Overall: RM219.99 million
Total still owed: RM85 million
However, on the 24th of June 2017, Chow Kon Yeow, who chairs the state Local Government Committee, insisted that the payments made were inclusive of those for DEIA studies. Then, just yesterday (see news item below), Hock Seng contradicted his 22nd of May statement by agreeing with Kon Yeow that the RM208.75 million Consortium Zenith was paid was inclusive of payments for DEIA studies.
Seriously, Lim Guan Eng’s excos are confusing me. Can someone please help by clarifying if payments for DEIA studies were actually made?
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GEORGE TOWN: Penang Works Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng has explained the payment for a project involving three major roads and the undersea tunnel project following a request by the Barisan Nasional (BN) for details of payment for the project.
On Penang Gerakan/BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow’s various statements regarding payment to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn. Bhd, he said the state government had paid RM31.269 million for the Cost for Feasibility Study and RM177.485 million for Cost for Detailed Design for the project involving the three major roads.
For the undersea tunnel project, the cost for the feasibility study was RM20 million, while the cost for detailed design stood at RM76.248 million, he said in a statement here today.
“To date, the Penang Government has paid RM208 million via land alienation for the feasibility study and detailed design of the three major roads. The fee for the detailed environmental impact assessment is included in the RM208 million,” added Lim.
Source: The Malay Mail Online
