Penang airport project delay: Guan Eng accepts Wee's debate challenge

GE15 | DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng accepted his MCA counterpart Wee Ka Siong’s challenge for a public debate on the cause of the delays over the Penang airport extension project.

“He has challenged me to a debate... I will not back down. Let him organise the time and place.

“(I’m accepting the challenge because) whenever Wee is trapped, he will try to avoid responsibility by lying,” Lim (above, right) told reporters in Penang today. 

The Najib Abdul Razak administration announced plans to upgrade and extend the 87-year-old airport during the Budget 2018 speech.

However, the project had yet to proceed until this day. 

Two days ago, Wee claimed that Putrajaya had indeed allocated money for the project in 2018. 

He claimed that when the Pakatan Harapan administration took over, Lim, as the finance minister at the time, refused to use that fund and instead wanted to use a PFI (private financial initiative) model.

Responding to this, Lim said Wee’s claims were inaccurate because although the project was in the Budget 2018 speech, it was never outlined in the 2018 federal government expenditure document.

Secondly, said Lim, Malaysia Airport Holding Bhd never sought any planning permission from the local authorities until July 17, 2019 - well into Harapan’s tenure. 

Previously, Wee also announced that Putrajaya had never cancelled the airport extension project and there had been discussions with the Penang government on land acquisition. 

He said once land matters are settled, MAHB will provide the necessary funds to kick off the project.

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