Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is unfazed over Gerakan’s threat to file an injunction to halt the construction of three major roads related to the undersea tunnel which links the island to the mainland in Butterworth.

“If they want to do it, go ahead,” said Lim, at a press conference in Penang today.

“But how can a state government be sued when the project was awarded via an open competitive tender, which meant the firm offering the lowest price would win the bid?" Lim queried.

“Moreover, in carrying out the project, the state government has complied with all local and international norms, so how can there be any wrongdoing?” Lim asked.

“We are waiting for the action to be taken to court because we have nothing to hide,” Lim insisted.

He was referring to Gerakan’s vice-president Dominic Lau (photo) who said on June 30 that the party was mulling the filing of an injunction to halt the RM6.34 billion project, which is slated for completion by 2030.

Lau said the party’s lawyers were studying the case, and filing of the injunction was pending investigations into allegations of corrupt practice, misconduct, misinformation, abuse of public funds and illicit horse-trading.

The accusations were strongly denounced by state executive councillor in charge of local government, traffic and flood mitigation, Chow Kon Yeow, who slammed Lau of wanting to sabotage projects by the Penang government which benefitted the people.

Meanwhile, Lim said he does not want to waste time responding to “politically motivated questions, or statements which are based on lies” from his opponents.

Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan alleged that the project concessionaire was overpaid by 400 percent, but this was refuted by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd chairperson Zarul Ahmad Zulkefly, who said his firm had responded to the minister although he had raised the same issues on seven occasions.

Lim accused his critics of being prepared to sabotage Penang’s infrastructure projects, which promotes better connectivity, to boost the state's economy.

“We will let the people decide,” Lim said, adding that two state excos - Chow and Lim Hock Seng have explained the project in detail, on several occasions, as BN leaders have raised the same issues in the past.

Chow is also state DAP chief while Hock Seng is in-charge of public works, utilities, and transport.

“Only those who pretend they do not understand, will try to nitpick and post irrelevant and ignorant questions over the project,” said Lim.