Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has hit out at his detractors for questioning why there was no open tender for companies to provide free WiFi for the state.

Lim said his opponents never tire of raising issues which are of no importance when they themselves had not done their duty during Barisan Nasional’s administration in the state, prior to 2008.

He added that the state regrets the “irresponsible attempts by BN” to confuse policy with practice by claiming that the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government has abandoned its open tender policy.

“Clearly, BN is hypocritical for criticising Pakatan for not practicing open tender when BN completely failed to do so,” he charged.

NONE “We have never questioned why BN did not provide free WiFi for Penangites; have they given us free WiFi before?” questioned the DAP national secretary-general.

Lim ( right in picture ) said that while BN had never practised open tender before, for the Pakatan government (in Penang), it is the hallmark of its CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) policy.

Last week the Penang government inked a RM8.5 million deal with Redtone to provide 750 extra hotspots, after the latter provide the initial hotspots for free.

The agreement with Redtone and the state through the Penang Development Corporation Technology Sdn Bhd is for five years, after which both companies have the option of continuing the services annually for RM900,000.

Lim reiterated for the umpteenth time that the free WiFi service is for all Penangites, including those who live in BN constituencies.

He said that previously there were areas not covered by the hotspots as the private company provided the service based on commercial considerations.

Now that the state is paying for the extra 750 spots, which are expected to be installed by this month, it had required the company to place at least 10 hotspots in every constituency, Lim added.

“It is not fair to say we discriminate between BN and Pakatan constituencies,” said Lim during a press conference in Komtar today.

On the open tender system, Lim clarified again that Redtone was the only company which was willing to provide 750 hotspots for free.

“Others were not interested, so how to have an open tender with only one interested company?” he asked.

“We did not prevent others from coming forward to provide this service, if there are, we can consider,” he added.

The same terms if others interested

Lim said the state was willing to consider other companies listed on Bursa Malaysia licensed to provide ICT services, on the same terms as those offered to Redtone International Bhd.

Lim added if the venture was so profitable, other companies will come forward to provide the service.

He stressed that while the state accepted the offer by Redtone, it had renegotiated the cost for a lower price.

“Without providing free WiFi and not ever practicing an open tender system before, BN continues to make noise. What else is wrong?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang is still unconvinced by Lim’s clarification over the WiFi project.

He said the state’s decision to consider granting the project to other companies on the same terms as those given to Redtone does not absolve Pakatan from fulfilling their pledge to hold an open tender for projects to be undertaken by the state.

“Penang Pakatan should not self presume that the current offer is the best deal for the state. This should be confirmed transparently via an open tender,” he said in a statement.

“It is not for him (Lim) or Pakatan to also self-presume that there is only one company that is interested and qualified for the state project. This should also be confirmed transparently via an open tender,” he added.

Tan said Pakatan should not practice double standards when it comes to administering open tenders in their own states.