DAP elected representatives were quick to point out that funds for the MRT project did not come from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's own pocket.

This was after Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak described the project as Najib's gift to Malaysians.

However, the minister questioned the silence of Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and Subang Jaya assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh with regard to a project in Penang.

Salleh was referring to the Gurney Wharf project, where during the launch of its preview last year, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had reportedly described it as a “sincere gift to the people of Penang”.

“How come Pua and Yeoh did not point out that the funds for the project did not come from the chief minister's pocket and therefore cannot be termed as a gift.

“This is because the two DAP representatives realise that the project is being carried out by Lim's administration, and if it is a project that brings revenue for the state and is good for the people, then the administration responsible for it deserves credit.

“However, due to their shallow political mindset, they would not extend the same logic to the MRT project being the brainchild of Najib, who deserves to be credited for it,” he told Malaysiakini.

Salleh said as opposition politicians, Pua and Yeoh are not required to have a negative viewpoint of things all the time, and in the process, expose their double standards.

“They should be matured enough to acknowledge the achievements of the government in improving the lives of the people,” he added.

Lim has defended his remarks, denying he had meant it as a personal gift to Penangites.

"I said it’s a sincere gift to the people of Penang by the state government.

"We have never said it is ‘Guan Eng’s gift to Penang’. We did not personalise it, that is the difference… compared to what Salleh said," Lim was quoted as saying by FMT.

Following Salleh's description of the MRT being a gift, Pua and Yeoh took to Facebook to debunk the claim.

“Hello, PM Najib paid for it with his pocket money, is it? We get to ride the MRT for free and our taxes don't have to (go) towards paying the RM30bn MRT debts? Nonsense,” said Pua.

Yeoh posted, “Taxpayer's money, not his money."

In a blog posting, Salleh said the MRT project proved that the government placed the well-being of the people as a top priority and did not discriminate states that were not in accord with it.

He said it also reflected excellence in the government's performance in providing an efficient city transport system on par with that of developed countries.

Salleh said the MRT would not only save travel time and cost for the people but also minimised traffic congestion with a reduction of 160,000 vehicle entries into the city daily.