GEORGE TOWN: Will Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng ‘‘chase away’’ China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), the main contractor of the proposed RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project?
This was the poser raised by Penang Gerakan in the face of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s alleged “anti-Chinese investment” stand.
Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) had recently challenged Lim and his father, Kit Siang, to state whether or not they share Dr Mahathir’s sentiments.
Lim retaliated by rhetorically asking if it was wrong to review unfair contracts with any country, including China.
“With Lim being an ally of Dr Mahathir now, will he ‘chase away’ CRCC – like he did with the Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG)?
“This (undersea tunnel project) is not a private project, but a government project using taxpayers’ money.
“As such, Lim must come clean on the matter,” state Gerakan acting Youth chief Jason Loo told a press conference at the state Gerakan headquarters here today.
Meanwhile, Loo, who is BN’s candidate for the Pulau Tikus state seat in the 14th general election (GE14), also took CRCC to task for recently threatening to sue anyone who spreads fake news or gives false information about the project.
“Is Lim in the know about the contractor’s action? Did he allow them to (threaten) anyone from speaking up on the project?
“If there is nothing wrong with this project, then why are the people prevented from questioning it?
“Whose side is Lim on? Is he pro-developer or pro-people?” Loo asked.
Loo said if the present administration has the people’s interests at heart, it should speak out against the contractor’s threat.
In response, Lim said that he can only deal with the contractor after the GE14. He stressed that at this stage, his administration is only a caretaker government.
The tunnel project has raised numerous controversies in recent months, especially with regard to the high cost of the RM305 million feasibility studies, as well as the 24-month delay in its completion.
It is now the subject of an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).