Nasrudin to apologise over allegations on undersea tunnel project, Guan Eng

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng wants PAS Temerloh member of parliament Nasrudin Hassan to apologise over the undersea tunnel project claimed to cost RM4.63 billion and given to a company through direct negotiation.

He said if Nasrudin failed to issue an apology within 24 hours, he would take legal action over the latter's untrue statement.

"It is clear that Nasrudin had lied, as the undersea tunnel project was given to Consortium Zenith BUCG through open tender and not through direct negotiation as publicly claimed.

"The overall cost of the project is RM3.6 billion and not RM4.63 billion and Nasrudin continued to lie as the Penang state government under Pakatan Rakyat has never experienced a budget deficit but in fact, recorded a surplus," he told a news conference at his office here, today.

Lim was responding to Nasrudin's statement on a portal which questioned the action taken against Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim over the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) issue.

In his statement, Nasrudin also questioned Pakatan Rakyat's leadership in not taking any action against Lim over the undersea tunnel project which was claimed to have been awarded to Zenith via direct negotiation.

Nasrudin also lamented that no Pakatan Rakyat leader had criticised the Penang chief minister for boldly spending on the project when the financial situation was critical -- while many residents and other quarters were opposed to the project just like the sentiments against the Kidex project.