Instead of eating durians from Balik Pulau yesterday, Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairperson Dr Chua Soi Lek should have visited the Tanjung City Marina, which is in dire straits because of poor management , says Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

MCA-owned newspaper The Star reported on page 4 of its issue today that the party president was in Penang yesterday for a durian feast in Relau with several other MCA leaders.

dapsy agm 091212 lim guan eng Several English language dailies, and Malaysiakini as well, were not invited to the event.

"I know Penang durians are good, but he should have visited the marina project after that. It's been abandoned, with RM43 million gone down the drain," Lim told a press conference today.

"If I knew, I could have even sent him some durians to eat at the marina. Isn't it better that I give him durians instead of bananas?" Lim asked.

The marina, part of George Town's heritage restoration project, is being managed by Penang Port Sdn Bhd, a federal government-linked corporate entity helmed by former Penang deputy chief minister and Teluk Bahang assemblyperson Dr Hilmi Yahya.

Chua questions Lim's successes

Lim was apparently irked by Chua's statement questioning his successes in leading Penang.

Chua, a former health minister criticised Lim for "boasting about his efficient state government administration" but noting that Lim tabled a deficit budget for the state next year.

The Star quoted Chua giving several examples of Lim's "failures" - Penang's foreign direct investment falling to number seven this year and the "kancil car park" at the foot of Penang Hill, which was demolished.

NONE Chua had also challenged Lim to acquire Swettenham Pier and close it down, saying, "This way, he can show he is the one calling the shots."

Lim responded: "Chua should do his homework or get someone to teach him how to do accounts. We usually announce a deficit budget (as a projection of expenditure) but in the past years, we have been recording a surplus. Does he know that?"

As for acquiring Swettenham Pier, Lim shot back "Why should we do that when we already own the land on which it sits?

"We have the right of takeover if we wish, but what we want is a say on how it is developed. We don't want it to end up like the marina."

At a press conference recently, former PPC chairperson and state MCA Wanita chief Tan Cheng Liang had said the state had a role in the pier , as state secretary Farizan Darus represented the state government on the PPC board of directors.

NONE Also, national news agency Bernama reported that the PPC "will take over the operations of the Swettenham Jetty Cruise Ship Terminal and Tanjung City Marina ( left ) from PPPSB next year".

Lim said although Farizan was present at the PPC board meetings, he was not fully informed about PPC's developments. He was also not informed about PPC's plan to take over the marina next year.

"Not everything is in the minutes (of board meetings)," said Lim, who added that any decision on Swettenham Pier should be by consensus, not forced by PPC, although it holds the majority stake in the pier and marina.

"The PPC must hold discussions with all stakeholders and the state government - which owns the land and everything on it - on how to make the pier more attractive in terms of increasing its activities and visitors," he added.