MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong has been urged to name the corrupt official allegedly linked to the Penang undersea tunnel project, which has hogged headlines since January.

At a press conference in Komtar yesterday, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said although Wee had launched another personal attack against him, the BN leader failed to prove there is corruption involved in the RM6.3 billion project.

"It is always when you cannot prove your case that you make personal attacks. I challenge Wee to state the name of the Penang government leader who is corrupt and complicit in the corrupt act with the contractor awarded the project in 2013," Lim said.

"Until today, Wee cannot and dare not state which leader is corrupt, and have (allegedly) received millions from the contractor.

"Better (for him to) state the name and let the leader prove and clear his or her name in court," Lim said.

He was responding to a series of critical statements from Wee, including one where the minister had asked, "How much is the actual corruption in the undersea tunnel project?".

The latter was based on revelation that an individual with a ‘datuk seri’ title had allegedly received RM19 million, purportedly to end MACC’s probe in allegations that initially implicated an Umno lawmaker, who was later cleared.

Project contractor Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd had been under probe by the MACC, which has quizzed about 100 and nabbed five high-ranking officials in their investigations.

Apart from the ‘datuk seri’ allegation, no other element of corruption has yet been confirmed.

Encompassing 10.53km of the North Coastal road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang, the projects includes a 5.7km Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Highway bypass, as well as the 4.075km Persiaran Gurney-Tun Lim Chong Eu highway bypass.

The project also includes the construction of a 7.2km undersea tunnel connecting Persiaran Gurney on the island to Bagan Ajam in Seberang Perai.

‘Where is the corruption?’

Meanwhile, Lim continue to rubbish allegations of corruption in the project, reiterating that it was awarded to Zenith via an open tender in 2013.

Lim said payment would be made to the contractor only after they are firstly assessed by independent checking engineering firm HSSI Sdn Bhd.

"Until today, MACC has not probed HSSI. The chairperson of HSSI has also not been probed over the matter," he said.

"HSSI is not connected to or paid for by the Penang government, so, where is the corruption?" He asked.

"If you have the courage, state who is the corrupt leader. If you don't have proof, I think you should stay silent," said Lim.

"We are sick and tired (of having) to answer all your questions, when it is all lies," said the DAP secretary-general.

Lim said whenever the Penang government exposes any of the MCA deputy’s "lies", Wee denies having said it, even though the MCA-owned The Star had reported the claims.

"Just say it, who is corrupt? Do not be a coward.

“Accept the challenge so that the accused can take action to clear his name," Lim repeated.

"So far there is no evidence - maybe he knows something that we do not know."