Bridge name prerogative of Putrajaya
Story and pix by Chan Lilian
CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng has rebuked Utusan Malaysia over an article in its March 3 edition titled “Terima hati terbuka nama jambatan kedua”. According to Utusan, Lim was aggrieved (terkilan) over the Second Penang Bridge being named Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.
Lim said only Utusan is capable of such defamation as he had not at anytime questioned the naming of the bridge.
During the launch of the bridge on March 1, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had commented that a magnificent structure like the second Penang Bridge deserves a better name instead of just “second” bridge. Hence, the bridge was named after the King who is also the Sultan of Kedah.
In a press conference in Komtar on March 3, Lim said several reporters were there at the press conference the previous day (March 2) at Taman Hijau when he was asked to comment on the name of the bridge.
Lim said he had replied to theSun’s question, after a press conference on gotong-royong, that the state government supports the name of Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.
“Utusan has bad intentions to antagonise and pit the state government and myself against the federal government. It is the perogrative of the federal government to name the bridge and Penang supports the decision,” Lim said.
It must be noted that none of the Utusan reporters were at the press conference on March 2.
When asked by members of the media if he was going to take any action against Utusan, Lim replied: “How many more legal suits should I take against them?”