GEORGE TOWN: Penang MCA is concerned that the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL-1) cost of RM7.5bil will eventually be borne by Penangites, said Penang MCA Youth chief Datuk Michael Lee.

“This is equivalent to a staggering cost of RM385mil per km - easily the most expensive highway in Malaysia by far.

“This cost is 140% more than the RM161mil per km cost of the planned Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) in Selangor which DAP elected representatives three years ago claimed was the most expensive highway in Malaysia,” he said yesterday.

In his statement, Lee thanked Chow for clarifying the RM8.4bil cost of the Penang Komtar-Bayan Lepas LRT project which has not increased but included the land acquisition cost as compared to the RM7bil figure quoted previously.

Lee queried whether the state had consulted the Federal Public Works Department (JKR) on lower cost alternatives.

“The state government has the habit of substantially overpaying consultancy costs. Can they disclose how much the consultancy reports for the RM7.5bil highway had cost?

“How much will the state be borrowing from China or other banks to fund this RM7.5bil highway as well as the RM8.4bil LRT?

“It seems that Pakatan’s mega infrastructure projects - especially those in Penang - cost substantially higher than similar projects by the Federal Government. Why is this so?” he asked.

The Penang Komtar-Bayan Lepas LRT and the PIL-1 are priority projects of the Penang Transport Master Plan.

-The Star-