Gerakan today questioned an alleged RM200 million discrepancy in the cost of the Penang undersea tunnel that links Gurney Drive to Butterworth in the mainland.

The party’s acting Youth chief Jason Loo said the media had frequently quoted Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng as saying the tunnel cost RM3.7 billion.

But a report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the tunnel cost just RM3.5 billion, Loo said.

“However, we checked the PAC Report clause 3.8 (Page 8) which was tabled in the Penang Legislative Assembly in November 2015, and found it is stated that the undersea tunnel cost RM3.5 billion.

“So, who do we believe? The two Lims or PAC? There is one project, but two different figures. What happened to the difference of RM0.2 billion?

“If the two Lims are right, does it mean that the PAC report is inaccurate?” Loo asked at a press conference dubbed 'Episode 2 of the Disclosure of the Undersea Tunnel project' at the party’s Macalister Road headquarters.

Loo said that while RM200 million may not be a big concern for the likes of Guan Eng or Hock Seng, the figure was significant to opposition politicians, the media and the public.

“(This) RM0.2 billion can build 4,762 low-cost homes worth RM42,000 each,” he said.

The entire project, which includes three highways across the island, costs RM6.3 billion and is slated for completion in 2027.

The project was awarded to construction firm Consortium Zenith-BUCG, whose partner includes a China giant builder - China Railway Construction Group (CRCG).

Last week, Loo revealed that CRCG in its official website said the contract signed with CZBUCG stated that the feasibility study and detailed design (FSDD) of the tunnel and three highways cost RM90 million.

Guan Eng had reportedly responded by saying that the cost stated by CRCG only referred to the tunnel project, while the entire FSDD, including the study for the three highways, cost RM305 million.

Commenting on this, Loo asked whether the chief minister was saying that the firm gave the public wrong information.

Meanwhile, CZBUCG chief Zarul Ahmad had reportedly said that the CRCG report was in Mandarin and the firm was probably misquoted.

“This is funny, Zarul… the media in Malaysia is usually said to have misquoted you, now the media in China have done the same,” said Loo.

Loo has consistently highlighted issues related to the undersea tunnel, and even challenged Hock Seng, who is in charge of the state's public works, utility and transport, to a debate on the matter.

But Hock Seng declined the offer and instead agreed to debate with Gerakan secretary-general Liang Teck Meng tomorrow at 9pm at the Caring Society Complex.