In a posting this evening, Wee said the decision to replace the old double-deck ferries was “actually initiated and approved by the then PH government. I just continued it because I feel it is something good and will benefit the people,” he said.
Wee and the transport ministry made separate statements in response to DAP allegations that there were political reasons behind changes to Penang transport projects.
Yesterday, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, who is DAP secretary-general, and his sister Lim Hui Ying, who is a senator from Penang, had said that Penangites had been victimised when the new Perikatan Nasional government took over. They claimed that all transport-related projects requiring federal approval or funding had been axed.
Guan Eng said it was no coincidence since the transport ministry was under Wee, who is also MCA president.
The DAP has also launched a signature campaign against the so-called axing of the projects.
However, the transport ministry said the Penang ferry services were never cancelled, but merely restructured as the older ferries were prone to breaking down and were not viable in the long run.
Newer ferries in the form of water buses and vehicle transporters for motorcycles will be in operation by July 2022.
The ministry also said that Hui Ying had proposed to the Dewan Negara last month that the old ferries be converted into “a floating restaurant, museum or a tourist cruise” and that the Penang Port Commission had similarly proposed that the last two double-deck ferries be turned into a museum or a restaurant, pending a request for proposal from any interested party.
The ministry, and Wee, also dealt with DAP claims about a proposed Penang airport expansion project, and a proposed LRT line from George Town to the airport.
Wee said the airport had been approved by the previous Barisan Nasional government in the 2018 budget.
The ministry said the expansion project had not been cancelled as suggested by DAP, but was on hold pending a review in view of low demand because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and matters to do with land acquisition.
The aviation crisis had affected the ability of airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd to finance any expansion. The government was reconsidering all airport expansions in view of international forecasts that civil aviation would recover only in 2024.
On the Bayan Lepas LRT project, the ministry said it had yet to receive social and environmental impact assessment reports, hence making it impossible to approve the project. The ministry said it also could not give “partial approvals” for separate, specific portions of the proposed rail line, adding that this was already briefed to the state government in November last year.
Wee said the Perikatan Nasional government had revoked the permission given by Lim, as finance minister, for a US$500 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to finance the project.
He said the Penang state government had several times announced that they have the ability to fund the RM46 billion project. “The door for negotiations is still open for Guan Eng to discuss with the finance minister for the federal government’s assistance if he has a lower loan,” he said.
Wee also talked about the proposed Penang Hill cable car project, which was alleged to have been another political victim.
He said the project was not under the purview of the transport ministry but came under the tourism ministry. “I was not involved and had nothing to do (with the cable car project),” he said.