BAYAN LEPAS: The Penang government appears to be only adept at “giving empty talk” when it failed to implement three paired roads project announced in 2014.
Penang Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said this was in contrary to the commitment displayed by the Federal Government which had successfully fulfilled all promises made.
He said this was evident in the completion of the Jalan Bayan Lepas-Teluk Kumbar road upgrading project at the end of last year, following an announcement on the project in 2014.
“This is what differentiates the Federal Government from the Penang government. When we make a promise, we make sure to fulfil it.
“(We are unlike) the state government, which until now, has yet to commence the paired roads project,” Zainal told newsmen after opening the Jalan Bayan Lepas-Teluk Kumbar federal road here today.
The 3km-road upgrading project, along with the construction of a 750m overhead bridge, at a cost of RM207 million, is expected to shorten travelling time to just minutes, from the previous half an hour.
The project is part of a continuation of the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Bridge to mitigate traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, in his comments concerning Malaysia's richest man Tan Sri Robert Kuok who had allegedly supported DAP to topple the Barisan Nasional government, Zainal said the opposition seemed to have been “beating around the bush” on the issue.
“When it concerns them, they will say it is nothing. But if it concerns Umno, they will repeat the issue time and again.
“Now, Kuok is alleged to have contributed to the opposition (DAP’s coffers). Can they not ask the people to donate to them instead?” said Zainal who is also Penang Umno liaison committee chairman.
Political blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin recently claimed that Kuok harboured an agenda to replace the current government with one led by DAP.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said that Kuok would not have made his fortune without government policies that had become a key to his success.
