BUTTERWORTH: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the joint DAP-PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) state government would continue to keep its election promises to the people.

To prove he meant business, he said the state had written to the federal government to abolish the Sungai Nyior toll at the Butterworth Outer Ring Road. He has also raised the issue in Parliament on numerous occasions.

"We are doing our best. However, it will take us some time to resolve the matter.

"After all, this is under the purview of the federal government. We will try to do it before the next general election," he said after attending Wesak Day celebrations at the Butterworth Buddhist Association at Mak Mandin here yesterday.

Also present were state executive councillors Lim Hock Seng and Phee Boon Poh and the association's chairman Phee Boon Chong.
Guan Eng was responding to accusations that the new state government had failed to deliver on its election promises.

The DAP, in its election manifesto, had promised to abolish the Sungai Nyior toll along the RM700 million highway, implemented in September 2006, if it came into power.

Vehicles using the stretch from Seberang Jaya and here are charged between 50 sen and RM1.90.

Since 2004, residents living in the surrounding vicinity and in Seberang Jaya had protested against the toll as many of them use the stretch several times a day.

Guan Eng pledged to fulfil the party's election manifesto and said he would continue to raise issues with the federal government