The venue is all set for the great debate on the undersea tunnel between Penang Gerakan Youth and state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng.

It will be the Loh Association’s first floor ballroom on Saturday, 2pm. State Gerakan Acting Youth chief Jason Loo confirmed this today.

"We hope he will show up, to prove the state goverement has nothing to hide," Loo told reporters today.

Loo had initially challenged Lim to debate with him at the iconic Dewan Sri Pinang, but this was not possible as private bookings have to made 30 days in advance.

Loo then tried to book a hall in Penang Chinese Town Hall but also failed as the date clashed with other functions. He finally managed to make at booking for the Loh Association ballroom.

He said a formal invitation will be sent to Lim soon.

"Since the state government has self- proclaimed its administration is based on transparency, they should allow such debates instead of asking people to go to their office," Loo said.

"Lim had asked people to visit his office to read the relevant documents on the undersea tunnel.

"But this issue involves public interest, why does he want to do it behind closed doors?" Loo asked.

"We all don't know how they used the RM305 million which they said was spent on the feasibility study and detailed design of the undersea tunnel. This is terrifying," Loo added.

Public participation

Meanwhile, Loo said to allow for more public participation, he will gather questions and comments on the undersea tunnel from the public via his Facebook page, and will asked Lim these questions on Saturday.

He said, many Penangites were still unclear about the project and the project itself sounded "very scandalous."

"The people find it very difficult to believe the feasibility study will cost as much as RM305 million, so it is fair and good for them to witness the public debate and get more answers from that," Loo stressed.

The cost of RM305 million for feasibility studies and detailed designs was first raised by federal minister-cum-BN strategic director, Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Loo had applied to view all documents related to the undersea tunnel which will link Gurney Drive and Butterworth by 2027.

The RM6.3 billion project, to be completed in 12 years by Consortium Zenith-BUCG, will also see three highways being built across the island.

Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan had lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to probe the high cost of the study.

Lim, who is in charge, of public works, utility and transport, had asked Abdul Rahman to view the documents himself, to get the answers to the various questions surrounding the issue.

Lim has yet to agree to the debate and is not available for comment, as yet.