Addressing reporters at Parliament lobby, he said BNM is independent and has its own meetings to decide on its policies.
“Personal opinions of the finance minister cannot be, you know, simply uttered. Let the BNM deal with it,” the Bagan MP said.
BNM earlier this month maintained its OPR and said it expected the inflation rate to be stable this year, with its average headline inflation broadly stable compared with 2018.
It said the underlying inflation, as measured by core inflation, remained stable at 1.5% in January 2019, which it said was reflective of sustained demand conditions.
It also said the trajectory of headline inflation would continue to hinge on global oil prices and “expected it to be sustained, supported by the steady expansion in economic activity”.
Asked on ongoing negotiations to take over toll concessions of four highways, Lim said this may take another six months.
The negotiations are being undertaken with Gamuda Berhad relating to the Damansara Puchong Expressway, the Western KL Traffic Dispersal System, Shah Alam Expressway and SMART Tunnel.
The Pakatan Harapan government had promised in its 14th general election manifesto to gradually take over toll concessionaires and abolish all tolls in the country in stages.
Lim also commented on not being chosen to lead the negotiations of the ECRL.
“If I were picked, where do I have time to do other work (his ministerial duties)? Remember, we have to travel back and forth to Beijing, which is seven to eight hours away.
“This is not Singapore, just one hour away. This is seven hours.”
He said Daim Zainuddin, who is a former finance minister, who Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced earlier as the key negotiator with China on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, was the best person to do the job as he is experienced.
Daim’s goal is to “scale down or shorten” the project to make it more affordable while still able to serve the east coast states.
“He also doesn’t like protocol. He also goes around in a very straightforward manner. This is what we want, a cut to the chase, a straightforward man,” he added.
On whether there was a need for more bridges linking Johor and Singapore, as mooted by the prime minister recently, Lim said he agreed a new bridge is needed.
“But that depends on Singapore. This issue, I feel, surely will be under the finance ministry,” he said, adding Singapore and Malaysia must come to a consensus on the matter.
Mahathir had on Tuesday said Malaysia and Singapore need at least three to four more bridges connecting both countries to facilitate congestion and traffic flow.
On the issue that the project delivery partner (PDP) model for the Pan Borneo Highway will be dropped, he said it would better to wait for an official statement to be made, adding this would be made soon.
The Edge Financial Daily, quoting sources, reported earlier that the works ministry would take over the project, with turnkey contractors hired to replace the PDP for the remaining construction work.
Although Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal had confirmed this, Tian Chua, the special adviser to Works Minister Baru Bian said the two PDPs — Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd and Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd — have not been removed.
On the new Kulim airport, Lim said it would be financed by a private financing initiative (PFI), meaning it will be privately funded.
He said expansion work at the existing Penang airport, estimated at RM1 billion, will also be done through a PFI.
The RM1.6 billion Kulim international airport project for Kedah was mooted by Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali recently.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has requested Putrajaya to conduct a feasibility study on the Kulim airport amid concerns from the business community about its possible impact.