After mocking Penang tunnel, Najib asked about missing 1MDB funds

Penang exco Dr Afif Bahardin wants former premier Najib Abdul Razak to explain what happened to the funds allegedly swindled from 1MDB, instead of mocking the state's undersea tunnel project.

Afif was responding to a short video uploaded on Najib's Facebook page earlier today, in which he is seen pointing at the Penang Strait and shaking his hands. 

The video was accompanied by a post that read: "Terowong Lim Guan Eng? Yilekkkkk... Sama macam janji manis PH. Kosonggggg (Lim Guan Eng's tunnel? Nothing. The same as Pakatan Harapan's sweet promises. Empty)."

Describing the post as unbecoming of a former premier, Afif pointed out that the money allegedly swindled from 1MDB has now landed Najib in court facing multiple counts of money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust. 

He added that what Najib said about the tunnel can also be said about the purportedly misappropriated funds.

"The money you took is also missing, there is none to be seen," he said when contacted. 

"It's a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Doesn't he realise that his antics are embarrassing? As he points a finger at others, four are pointing back at him."

'Najib has lost his way'

Afif also pointed out that it was Najib's administration that delayed approval of the tunnel project, ignoring Penang's efforts to solve its traffic woes.

"Now he stands on the beach and points fingers at us, asking where is the tunnel?

"The tunnel is Penang's plan to link the mainland to the island, giving the people there better access to the island and vice versa.

"It is our effort at being inclusive, instead of just focusing on development on the island," he said.

"How can Najib merely laugh at it as if it is some joke?

"Truly, Najib has lost his way. He had tunnel vision, but that too is gone," Afif (photo) added.

Before the 14th general election, several BN leaders had called the transparency of the RM3.6 billion undersea tunnel into question, which prompted then-Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng to accuse them of trying to sabotage the project.

The project was further delayed by the MACC detaining a key official from concessionaire Consortium Zenith Construction – senior executive Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli – for questioning in January last year.

Zarul later said, however, that the commission had cleared him of any wrongdoing in relation to the project.

Work on the undersea tunnel and three paired roads linking Butterworth to the island is expected to commence on Aug 31. - Mkini