The Works Ministry will evaluate the request for a third Penang bridge based on its merits, long-term costs and benefits to the people as with any application or proposals for any construction projects, said its Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said the government may ask the Penang government to submit all relevant documentation related to their request for a third bridge to link the island to the mainland.

"This may include the three project studies costing RM305 million, which I understand is complete or nearing completion, that the Penang Government had contracted for and have already substantially paid for," he said in a statement here Sunday.

He said this in responding to a statement by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng which was reported by local media that the Penang state government will be sending a formal letter next week to the federal government to seek approval for the construction of the third bridge.

Fadillah said he had taken note of Lim's statement yesterday that he will be sending a letter this week to apply for a third Penang bridge.

"Similarly, I thank Lim for coming clean and confirming that the Federal Government had never rejected or made it difficult for the Penang government to receive approval in the past to build a third Penang Bridge and forcing the Penang government to build an undersea tunnel instead," he said.

Fadillah said he had also taken note that Lim had admitted yesterday that he was not brave enough to request for such approvals in the past - despite the fact that by his own admission, a bridge would cost at least RM2 billion less than the tunnel.