GE15: Guan Eng’s fault Penang airport upgrade delayed, not ours, says Wee

GEORGE TOWN – MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong alleged today that DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng’s actions, back when he was the finance minister, led to a delay in upgrading Penang International Airport.

On the campaign trail in Penang, Wee accused Lim of trying to pin the blame for the delay on the new leadership at the federal Transport Ministry. 

However, after inspecting the records of the ministry as well as input from the Finance Ministry, Wee claimed, he uncovered Lim’s decision to invite a private sector initiative (PSI), which hampered approval to upgrade the airport.

Stressing that he is open to a debate over the matter, Wee said that Barisan Nasional had in 2017 approved the airport for an upgrade as the facility had reached its maximum in cargo and passenger handling.

However, the allocation for this was deferred after Pakatan Harapan (PH) assumed power following the general election of 2018, which saw Lim become the finance minister, he claimed.

Speaking at a press conference here, he added that Lim had apparently indicated for the airport’s expansion to be done through a PSI deal, with companies from Penang bidding for it.

The allocation was thus deferred, claimed Wee, who was transport minister from 2020 until Parliament was dissolved last month.. 

He explained that when the pandemic struck, it became tough for Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd to continue the expansion initiative as it needed additional funds to keep the operations of airports afloat.

“We did not retrench anyone from the airport operator although we were only operating at a 20% capacity during the movement control order,” he said.

“Look, the federal government cannot be faulted. We tried our best, but we also needed the cooperation of the state government here. They didn’t deliver.”

Wee said he also spoke to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow about expanding the airport last year when he pointed out the need to expedite the land acquisition. This matter was left to the state, he added.

“So who is to be blamed here?” he said.

Wee said that the federal government cannot be made the culprit if there is a shortfall in development allocations as some projects need assistance from the state.

Wee also said that he does not believe what DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang says nowadays because he lost all credibility by collaborating with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the last election.

“So, he can make this and that claim. We will not react to him anymore,” Wee said.

He was responding to reports of Kit Siang’s claim in Taiping that support for PH had continued to grow following the early days of campaigning.

Wee urged voters in Penang to allow MCA to play the role of check and balance, to ensure that DAP is kept under watch if it continues to dominate in Penang. – The Vibes, November 7, 2022