DAP is raising a stink over the Malacca government's idea of providing public amenities in Dataran Sejarah - by building a single public toilet said to have cost ratepayers a massive RM120,520.

Secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he had received a tip-off on the expenditure from "sources close to the city council".

He added that he was not told the exact location of the toilet and had gone to inspect the area where four new toilets were built.

"I went to take a look at the toilets today. There are four units - three public toilets and one 'VIP' toilet. None of them warrants spending that kind of money," he said when contacted.

"The people of Malacca have been ripped off again. The public toilets are not worth the amount spent. The VIP unit, with separate facilities for men and women, would have cost about RM60,000 at most.

"Even then, why did the state spend (so much) for a VIP toilet? There is really nothing special about the unit."

In a statement yesterday, Lim said the state should be held accountable for providing a cost breakdown, as the sum could have been used to build five low-cost houses.

"It is obvious that spending money on a toilet for certain members of society is far more important that proving houses for the poor," he said.

Lim also questioned the state government's choice of contractor, asking if it had called an open tender for the project.

Following a search of company records today, he revealed that the company has not submitted its accounts since 1998.

"It is not a functioning one although it has a paid-up capital of RM500,000. Why was this company chosen?" Lim asked.

The contractor and Malacca Mayor Zaini Md Nor could not be reached today, while state executive councillor for housing and local government Poh Ah Tiam declined comment.

Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam is in Korea and Japan on official business with Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz, according his personal assistant.

He had previously been taken to task over other controversial projects including degazetting part of a forest reserve for a theme park in Ayer Keroh.