ADUN SPEAKS | There seems to be a never-ending campaign against the Penang government. Half-truths, outright lies and distortion of facts are taking place almost daily against the project that was begun by the Penang government in 2013, comprising an undersea tunnel and three main roads.

The latest entry on the bandwagon is none other than MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong, who is adamant that the Penang government has committed a colossal crime in the awarding of the project to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) Consortium Zenith. He has raised a number of questions to the Penang government to which he wants immediate answers.

Contrary to what was reported in one of the dailies, I don't think that Wee has raised difficult questions for the Penang government. I would think that the questions he posed lack a basic understanding of what transpired when the contract was awarded to the principal contractor or the SPV, Consortium Zenith (Zenith), in 2013.

Wee's questions might appear "brilliant" to those who know little about the undersea tunnel project or the three main roads, but for those with some basic understanding, they are nothing but silly ones meant to score political points.

The Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) may have pulled out from the project, but the China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd (CRCC) still remains as the contractor, and not a shareholder, in the SPV company.

The CRCC has an agreement, as required for any major contractor undertaking a public project. As revealed recently, CRCC general manager Sun Ming told the media that although the undersea tunnel project has not begun, the company still remains as a contractor.

CRCC not shareholder

I don't think the Penang state secretary said that the CRCC holds equity in the SPV. Zenith might be in partnership with three other companies in the SPV, but CRCC is definitely not involved.

Even if there are other companies holding equity in the SPV, such share equity does not negate the functions of Zenith as the main contractor in undertaking the major transport infrastructure project.

Wee's argument that Zenith was a last minute entrant in competing for projects in Penang does not negate the process that the company underwent in obtaining the project. Zenith was awarded the project via an open tender process; and none other than the Penang state secretary, Farizan Darus, chaired the meeting. No politician was involved in the tender exercise.

Wee questions the nature of the agreement with contractor CRCC as not being binding, simply because the EIA has not been awarded for the undersea tunnel project. I don't understand Wee's logic in questioning the validity of the agreement on the basis that no EIA having yet been awarded.

I don't think that the Penang government would appoint CRCC as the contractor for the project without an agreement. It is just not a memorandum of understanding (MOU) where the principal signatories can wiggle out if something goes wrong.

If the Penang government has paid RM208 million through a land swap, then the said land becomes private property. Whether the land is being developed by the City of Dreams or "City of Imagination" has no bearing on the Penang government.

Ridiculous, silly questions

There is another question as to how Zenith made a pre-tax profit of RM60 million for the financial year that ended in August 2015. Wee posed this question on the assumption that Zenith has no other business other than the project awarded by the Penang government.

The other private ventures of Zenith are not the concern of the Penang government. Perhaps Wee is barking up the wrong tree. Perhaps he would want to pose the question to Zenith for some answers.

Wee might be a trained civil engineer, having a Masters in traffic engineering and a PhD in transportation planning. However, these impressive credentials should not be misused to raise ridiculous and silly questions.

More importantly, these should not be used or abused to score political points, given the general election is around the corner.

To date, he has not used his expertise in raising questions about the wrongdoings of those alleged to have misappropriated funds from 1MDB, and the involvement of senior BN politicians in other major scandals.

Is Wee afraid that if he raises these questions, he might offend his "masters" in Umno?

It looks to be that the MCA and leaders like Wee cannot stomach the fact that the DAP has weaned away considerable Chinese support from them in the past 10 years or so. MCA leaders will use every opportunity to run down the Penang government that is being helmed by the DAP.

When it comes to attacking the Penang government, there is little attempt to differentiate the factual from the fictional. In fact, as far as the MCA or other BN parties are concerned, there is much porosity between the two realms.

If the federal government has taken up the task of providing for a major transportation infrastructure in Penang, there would not be any need for the Penang government to embark on such projects.

Why would the Penang government finance the transportation project through land swaps if federal funds were forthcoming?

It is about time that BN parties like the MCA start differentiating between the needs of politicians and needs of the people. Let us not repeat the "dog in the manger" story.

P RAMASAMY is Penang Deputy Chief Minister II and Perai state assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.