Although both parties have vowed not to drag politics into business, the DAP-led Penang government and MCA are at odds again over  development plans involving the Penang Port.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today denied he has been locked in talks with Chua Soi Lek - who is Penang Port Commission chairperson -  for four years as claimed by Chua, the former MCA chief.

The meetings were supposedly related to alienating state land to the Penang Port.

Lim ( photo ) said he had met Chua only twice this year and appeared surprised that Chua was quoted in theSun as saying there was 'no light at the end of the tunnel'.

"I must make a correction. I met him only twice this year and not over four years," Lim said at a press conference at Komtar.

"It was his decision to meet and I willingly met him. We were willing to put aside politics, although Chua was the former MCA chief," said Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general.

"In my understanding, we came to some agreement about several issues, especially on how to cooperate to develop Swettenham Pier and the cruise terminal business," Lim explained.

'Quite productive'

He said he preferred not to divulge details of the negotiations and intricacies involved to the media as discussions were still going on.

Lim also said Chua had no objections to the under-seabed tunnel linking the island with Butterworth.

He plans to meet Chua again to clarify matters when the former health minister returns from an overseas trip.

"I thought our meeting was quite productive and that we had made progress," said Lim.

"We will meet again to see if we are indeed making progress, or not at all," he added.

According to theSun , Chua ( photo ) said if Penang Port had the land, the state administration could collect premiums and quit rent, a long-term and sustainable way to generate revenue.

However, Lim's administration wants a share in the operations if land is alienated, Chua is quoted as saying by the daily.