MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng has taken aim at Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng after the latter credited the Pakatan Harapan administration with saving billions of taxpayer dollars on the MRT 2 Putrajaya line project.
"DAP should give credit where credit is due. Phase 1 of the MRT2 Putrajaya Line is up and running and gaining popularity following its opening on Friday.
"However, Lim exploits the MRT2’s operations and attempts to ‘steal the glory’ away from BN’s effort by attributing the success of the MRT2 project to the former Harapan administration.
"It is a blessing in disguise that Harapan fell after 22 months in office. Otherwise, the MRT2 would not only have downsized in scale, but it may not even be able to open for operations," said Tan.
Recently, Lim spoke to a news portal saying that "as a result of the work by the short-lived Harapan government, the saving of billions of ringgit will help to reduce the national debt and interest that the government (of the day) will need to repay using taxpayers’ money”.
It was reported that the initial estimated cost of the project at RM28 billion (in February 2014) had gone up to RM56.93 billion during BN's administration, while a re-negotiation under then finance minister Lim Guan Eng was able to save public funds of RM5.22 billion.
Tan rubbished the claims, saying that despite the project being intended to benefit the rakyat, Harapan undertook populist measures against this project and forcibly shrank its scale.
Citing a statement by MMC-Gamuda on Dec 10 last year, Tan said the cost savings by Harapan was actually scope omissions and specification reductions of the entire project.
"Isn’t it a coincidence that Lim fails to mention the delay in the project but only highlights how Harapan ‘saved costs’?
"The so-called ‘cost savings’ by Harapan was precisely at the expense, convenience and comfort of public transport users, as well as the quality and integrity of the entire MRT system," he added.
Tan said these included the deferment of two underground stations; reduction in the number of train sets and reduced connectivity with the MRT/KTM/ERL/Monorail at interchange stations.
He also cited reductions in the number of entrances and link bridges to nearby developments and the capacity of multistorey car parks as well as the rationalisation of electrical and mechanical system works
"Isn’t this disingenuous of Lim (Lip Eng) to actually credit Harapan for saving the taxpayers’ wellbeing when it was Harapan which stalled and downsized the entire project at the expense of the public?" asked Tan. - Mkini
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