'Same road': Zairil clarifies RM1.4m funds row in Bagan, Tasek Gelugor

Zairil Khir Johari has clarified that the RM1.4 million in funds for Bagan that were allegedly channelled to Tasek Gelugor was actually part of an RM5.6 million allocation to upgrade a federal trunk road that extends through both parliamentary constituencies.

In a statement titled “Don’t look for ghosts that don’t exist”, the Penang infrastructure committee chairperson revealed that RM4.2 million was spent in Bagan, while the balance was spent on Tasek Gelugor - all on the same federal trunk road.

Zairil (above) said the upgrading began from Jalan Chain Ferry all the way to Jalan Bagan Ajam and subsequently to Jalan Teluk Air Tawar.

He clarified that it was all one stretch of the same road, only that the portion from Jalan Bagan Ajam to Jalan Teluk Air Tawar happens to be in Tasek Gelugor constituency, which is bordering Bagan.

“Out of the RM5.6 million, RM4.2 million was spent in Bagan and the balance of RM1.4 million in Tasek Gelugor but all of it was on the same road,” said Zairil.

“I am sure all Bagan road users use this portion of the road as well, which happens to be in Tasek Gelugor.

“However since the MP for Bagan feels cheated, I managed to get the Public Works Department to give an additional RM1.4 million to spend in Bagan,” he said.

Zairil added that the additional funds for Bagan road works had been approved but he was not privy to how they were going to be allocated as this was now under federal jurisdiction. He said he only oversees state-level operations.

Exchanges

Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng had previously claimed that the sum of RM1.4 million had been channelled to Tasek Gelugor.

This resulted in a retort by Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan claiming that Lim considered the people’s tax money to be the absolute property of DAP to be distributed to the areas won by the party and not Perikatan Nasional-leaning areas.

He also said that DAP appeared to be treating Tasek Gelugor as a stepchild.

DAP senator explains

In another statement, DAP Senator Dr Lingeshwaran R Arunasalam today refuted Wan Saiful’s accusation.

He said that on March 9, Lim sent a letter to the works minister to apply for an allocation for a road upgrading and maintenance project according to priority in the entire Bagan parliamentary area.

“Following the application, the works minister through a letter dated April 19, approved an allocation of RM 5.6 million for periodic upgrades in the Bagan area and also RM200,000 for emergency work and work that requires immediate action by the district engineer.

“This matter became an issue when about a month ago, we were informed that of the total allocation approved by the works minister, only RM 4.2 million was allocated for the implementation of projects in Bagan while the remaining was channelled for projects outside the parliamentary constituency,” explained Lingeshwaran.

He said it was very clear that Lim’s purpose in raising this issue was to get back the original allocation that had been approved for his constituency.

“Imagine that the allocation that has been approved by the Minister can be channelled for other purposes, what message do we want to send about the government’s credibility?

“It is very noticeable that the entire provision is approved for the Bagan constituency and there is no element of excluding the PN constituencies,” he said.

He added that a checked Implementation Performance Report of the 12th Malaysia Plan projects showed that out of 45 projects approved in North Seberang Perai that are in the pre-implementation phase, only four projects are in Bagan.

“In terms of total project value, the four projects are worth a total of RM713,643,900, which is only 17.2 percent of the total RM4.15 billion approved for 45 projects in the pre-implementation phase in North Seberang Perai.

“Who is really the stepchild here?” he asked.

He said that if Wan Saiful feels that urgent or emergency allocations are needed for road repair works in Tasek Gelugor, he should put aside political differences and discuss this need with the prime minister.

“Of course, the concerned Madani government will approve allocations for the welfare of the people,” he said.

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