LABUAN: An activist here questioned the need for yet another expensive study on the need for a Labuan-Menumbok bridge, noting that no less than RM5 million of taxpayers’ money was spent on two earlier ones.

“Conducting another feasibility or technical is absurd and going back to the starting line and further drain of government funds when the previous research papers could always be referred to,” said Lau Seng Kiat, an election candidate.

He was commenting on Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustapha saying the Works Ministry was ready to bid for allocation on the mega project as the previous studies were carried out was long ago.

Lau recalled that the first study conducted in 2009 at a reported cost of RM5 million was quite comprehensive and done by a consortium of universities - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Sarawak (Unimas}.