Penang Gerakan is questioning which firm will now take the place of China-based Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG), which was booted out of the consortium building the undersea tunnel linking Gurney Drive and Butterworth.

“Back in 2013, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng promoted the firm, saying BUCG built the 2008 Olympics Stadium in China.

“Lim also said the firm’s strength was one of the factors that the tunnel project was awarded to Consortium Zenith-BUCG (CZBUCG),” recalled the party’s state acting youth chief Jason Loo.

“The Penang government is obliged to answer the rakyat on what is the real story behind the working relationship in the said consortium,” Loo added.

“We are afraid that soon someone might claim that they never said BUCG was kicked out, and that he had given the wrong statement due to the ongoing Merdeka festival,” Loo said.

“Will there be another U-turn? Penangites are worried about this company that always give U-turn statements,” Loo added.

This was aimed at CZBUCG chairman Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli who, on June 14, said the firm was not going ahead with the 83 percent completed feasibility study.

However, this decision was overturned in 24 hours when Lim claimed he never instructed CZBUCG to stop the feasibility study.

Zarul, who was then at a press conference with Lim to clarify the matter, apologised, saying that the mistake was probably due to the fasting month.

Yesterday, Lim announced that BUCG would no longer be able to conduct its business in Penang as the firm had allegedly not taken responsibility for the fatal tower crane accident in Bukit Bintang on Aug 5, involving a Penangite.

Chim Khoo Sing, the victim, died on the spot after a 500kg crane hook fell on her Perodua Kelisa on Jalan Raja Chulan.

It is learnt that the crane operator involved fled the country two days after the incident, while BUCG has suspended work on its hotel project, pending advice from the authorities.

During a press conference yesterday, Lim said the firm has failed to contacted the Penang government and the family of the 24-year-old administrative executive.

Malaysiakini has tried to contact BUCG’s main office in China, and branch in Kuala Lumpur, but the firm is not available for comment as yet.

BUCG comprises one percent of CZBUCG, with other partners Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (95 percent) and Juteras Sdn Bhd (four percent).

Lim said BUCG’s role in the consortium is minor as a bigger company - China Railway Construction Corp Ltd - is the main contractor in charge of engineering, procurement and construction for the project.

On Aug 28, 2011, BUCG inked a memorandum of understanding with the Penang government for the mega project before the matter was announced in Penang.

The MOU was witnessed by Prime Minister Najib Razak and then-Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.