PETALING JAYA: Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has offered the Penang government assistance to lower the cost of the RM6.3bil Penang Tunnel project.

"I would like to offer the Penang state government assistance through the Public Works Department on how we can assist to substantially lower the cost of the feasibility study and ensure the studies are completed on a timely manner instead of the multiple delays already suffered by them," said Fadillah in a press release on Friday.

He said he was shocked to hear the revelation by Barisan Nasional strategic communications director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan who had said that the various studies for the project would cost RM305mil.

Fadillah said that he believed his ministry had the expertise to do the work at substantially below the RM305mil while also ensuring the timeliness of the studies.

"It is also regrettable to hear that even at such large amounts, the Penang government has been facing delays on the completion of their studies. In my experience as the Works Minister, for large scale projects, such studies should cost less as a percentage of the project cost and can be negotiated down to man-day rates due to the large scope and amount involved," said Fadillah.

Earlier, Abdul Rahman had asked how the total cost of the feasibility studies, detailed design and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the undersea project came to a staggering RM305mil.

"We believe the amount of RM305mil could be better utilised for the welfare of Penang people," he said in a statement Friday.