"CHEC has nothing to do with the collapsed bridge ramp structure. The bridge ramp was not our project. The official report from China clearly stated that the collapsed bridge ramp had nothing do with CHEC.
"CHEC as an international group company has been actively contributing to the development of Penang and Malaysia for decades.
"We are wounded by the unfounded and careless remarks and allegations,” said the project director Fang Zhen Ru.
Fang said CHEC had been inundated with queries and accusations for being responsible for the incident on Aug 24 following news reports alleging a connection with the collapsed ramp structure in China.
It was initially reported that CHEC was a subsidiary company of China Communications and Construction Co Ltd (CCCC) that built the 15.4km eight-laned bridge across Songua River at a cost of US$300 million (RM938 million).
Fang, who was speaking at a joint press conference with Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) construction director Hamizul Ngah, and State Public Utilities and Transport committee chairman Lim Hock Seng, reiterated their non-connection with the construction company of the collapsed ramp bridge.In an attempt to dispel fears on the safety of the second Penang Bridge, Hamizul said the design of the bridge, done by China Highway Planning and Design Institute Consultants Co Ltd together with AECOM Hong Kong, was regularly checked by independent auditors.
"An independent design check was conducted by ARUP Jururunding Sdn Bhd together with Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd," said Hamizul.
by A. Sangeetha
