The federal government's decision not to build a second bridge for Penang as for now is a blow to Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon's administration, said his political rivals.

Penang DAP organising secretary Danny Law Heng Kiang said Barisan Nasional (BN) had promised to build the second link in its election manifesto during last year's general election.

The chief minister in particular had claimed that the government would surely deliver the link to boost the state economic growth, he added.

"Koh then demanded for a strong mandate from the people of Penang for the (Prime Minister) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) - led government. The people gave in, but the BN government has let them down again.

"It is a blow to Koh's government and his propaganda on the non-existing Pak Lah factor," he said.

Law said the decision to do away with the second link exposed Koh as a "chief minister without power".

Too costly

On Saturday, Works Minister S Samy Vellu said that Penang would not get a second bridge for now as it is too costly.

The federal government had earlier agreed that the proposed RM2.6 billion bridge linking Batu Maung on the island and Batu Kawan on the mainland was vital for the state's development.

However, the federal government would compensate the loss of a second bridge by expanding the present four-lane Penang Bridge to a six-lane highway.

A working paper on the expansion plan, which will also include two metre-wide road shoulders, will be tabled to the cabinet in May for approval.

The government would then determine its cost and sources of fund to finance the project. It will also decide on whether bridge concessionaire Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd (PBSB) would pay for the expansion cost or if the government would subsidise part of it

Not surprisingly, the federal government's decision not to build the second bridge did not go down well with industrialists, who have long campaigned for it.

Bad decision

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers northern branch chairperson O K Lee said the decision was bad for the state's economic growth.

Over the years, industrialists, especially multi-national companies, have made numerous representations to both the state and federal governments to build the second bridge due to the heavy traffic congestion on the present bridge.

About 110,000 vehicles ply across the Penang Bridge daily. It is estimated that PBSB garners RM128 million in toll collections yearly.

Companies operating in industrial areas on either side of the state are concerned about the costly delay caused by the bridge's congestion on the mobility of their staff and transportation of goods.

"Investors have been demanding for the second bridge for they do not want to lose their million-ringgit investments in Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Sungai Petani and Bukit Minyak industrial zones as well," said Lee.

The federal government first announced in 1998 that a second bridge connecting Bagan Jermal on the northeast of the island and Bagan Ajam on the mainland would be built.

Later, it was decided that the bridge be built at the southern coast between Batu Maung and Batu Kawan.

Meanwhile, Law said the shelving of the project could see foreign investment move from Penang to other states or even out of Malaysia.

It will lead to high unemployment and drain-out of professional and skillful manpower.

"Eventually it will cripple Penang's socio-economic growth," he added.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini's Penang-based stringer.