GEORGE TOWN – In another tit-for-tat, Transport Minister and MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has slammed DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, saying the latter is “shameless”.
Their ongoing spat was triggered by issue of the Penang ferries, which will be phased out starting this Friday.
“Apparently, Guan Eng still pretends to be the chief minister of Penang, even though the chief minister of Penang who is recognised by the federal government is Chow Kon Yeow.
“Many people in Penang are confused if there are two chief ministers – Chow as a working day CM while Guan Eng is a weekend CM.
“Guan Eng is the most shameless person,” Wee said in a Facebook post last night.
Wee also said that he cannot comprehend why Lim went after him when it was the then Pakatan Harapan federal government that “apparently agreed to replace the iconic Penang ferries with the speedboat catamarans in the first place”.
“Lim’s younger sister, senator Lim Hui Ying, had also agreed with this move,” said Wee.
“It seems that Lim's family should hold family meetings to standardise their views.”
With his Facebook post, Wee had attached Hui Ying’s statement (hansard) in the Dewan Negara dated December 17.
“Try to answer, who did the land reclamation and destroyed the hills in Penang? Isn't replacing a ferry service prone to damage with catamarans a more practical step to protect public safety and more beneficial for Penang’s tourism and transportation industry?” said Wee.
Wee had been lambasted as the Penang ferries are under the care of Penang Port Sdn Bhd, which is not a state entity.
By 2022, the iconic ferries will be replaced with five water buses and two transporters only for two-wheeled vehicles.
The decision was said to be driven by data that showed 80% of ferry users are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, while vehicles only account for 20%.
The Penang Port Commission has encouraged motorists to use the two Penang bridges as alternatives, but some feel that the double-decker ferries should be preserved in its present form as part of the state’s heritage. – The Vibes, December 28, 2020
