Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has proceeded to sue PAS Temerloh MP Nasrudin Hassan for failing to apologise for slanderous remarks made regarding the Penang tunnel project.

Bernama reported that Lim said a notice on the move has been sent to the PAS central committee member.

He said Nasrudin not only did not apologise over the statement but also made another slanderous statement that alleged the undersea tunnel project was carried out via direct negotiation.     

"Nasrudin did not apologise but made another statement and it will be referred to my lawyer. The notice which was sent yesterday is based on his first statement," he told reporters in George Town today.

On Tuesday during the heat of the Selangor menteri besar debacle, Nasrudin ambushed Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on why the latter had not been similarly attacked as Abdul Khalid Ibrahim over the tunnel project.

Just as Khalid is receiving flak for the Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex), the PAS leader asked why Lim wasn't similarly grilled for what he called an "unnecessary" and "expensive" project, complaining of Penang's deficit budget.

Nasrudin ( right ) also dredged up an old allegation that the tunnel project was awarded without open tender, a claim that the state denied way back in March 2012 and which the awardee Konsortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd denied again in 2013.

'Check facts with Pakatan colleagues'

Meanwhile Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng asked what Nasrudin's motives were for his attack on the Penang government when the latter should be questioning issues in his own state of Pahang.

"Umno and BN and their lackeys themselves have not attacked the transparency of the (undersea tunnel) project.

"Why is Temerloh MP Nasrudin Hassan himself so vehement in attacking and questioning his own political partners?

"Is Umno and BN in Pahang so sacred and excellent to the point that Nasrudin feels he needs to choose to train his attacks on Penang?" asked Lim ( left ) in a statement today.

"Is it so difficult for him to examine the facts (of the issues) from his Pakatan Rakyat colleagues, in particular his PAS colleagues in Penang?" he added.

Lip Eng said as a leader within an Islamic party, Nasurdin should have known that slander is a worse sin than murder, and urged other PAS members to condemn Nasurdin’s statement.

He said such attacks cannot be left unanswered and action should be taken against Nasrudin.

PAS should take Nasrudin to task for his obstinance, he said, calling on his colleagues from the Islamist party not to remain silent.

“Silence and indifference towards slander that has been revived from its dormancy would surely be seen as eroding PAS’ commitment towards the Pakatan Rakyat coalition and add to public scepticism towards the sincerity of their partnership,” he said.

'Sue for Penang gov't sake'

Separately, DAP Youth Chief Teo Kok Seong said his PAS counterpart’s statement is regrettable and backed Guan Eng’s decision to sue Nasrudin.

He said this should be done to protect the Penang chief minister and his government’s reputation and integrity, since Nasrudin has already been given an explanation on his allegations and a chance to apologise for it.

“Although we uphold freedom of speech and differences of opinion, it does not mean any party or individual can freely slander, particularly amongst allies in Pakatan Rakyat,” he said in a statement.