Federal Government to decide alignment of proposed southern link between Batu Kawan on the mainland and Batu Maung on Penang. Work on 9.2 km northern link between Bagan Ajam on mainland and Bagan Jermal on the island expected to start by 2003. Both involve tunnels. Visit www.malaysia.net 39/01.

The Dap-led Penang state government has awarded a RM8 billion (EUR2 billion) contract for the underground tunnel linking the island to the mainland and three major highway projects to Malaysia-China JV Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd, with a land swap deal and a 30-year concession on the tunnel. Consortium Zenith BUCG is made up of a local company, Consortium Zenith and China-based Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG). The deal will only be formally inked after a few more months when the finer details of the overall project are agreed.

The project includes a 12 km-long dual carriageway connecting Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang; a 6.5 km-long Penang-Butterworth sea tunnel that links Persiaran Gurney on the island to Bagan Ajam on the mainland; a 4.2 km-long highway linking Persiaran Gurney to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway; and a 4.6 km-long highway linking the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to the Bandar Baru Air Itam bypass.  Visit www.bucg.com and www.zet.com.my. 10/13.