He clarified that the project was instead a gift from the state government to the people of Penang.
Lim’s clarification came in the heels of a reprimand by federal minister Salleh Said Keruak targeted at DAP leaders, who slammed him for calling the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project a gift from Prime Minister Najib Razak to Malaysians.
In his criticism, Salleh said the DAP leaders should remember that Lim too, had described the Gurney Wharf project as “a gift” from himself to the people.
However, in countering Salleh’s statement, Lim told FMT, “I said it’s a sincere gift to the people of Penang by the state government.”
Lim said the MRT project Salleh was referring to was in reality something people paid for and its construction was funded by taxpayers’ money.
The chief minister argued that by comparison, the Gurney Wharf project was a public park and wharf, replete with a manmade beach, which was free of charge for the public to use.
“We have never said it is ‘Guan Eng’s gift to Penang’. We did not personalise it, that is the difference… compared to what Salleh said.
“I think he should not try to distort something that did not happen,” Lim retorted.
The exchange of words between Lim and Salleh began after Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and Subang Jaya assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh scoffed at the federal minister for saying the MRT project was a gift by Najib to Malaysians.
Salleh, in response, told Malaysiakini that the two were quiet when Lim said something similar to the effect about Gurney Wharf two years ago.
Penang government newsletter Buletin Mutiara quoted Lim as saying: “It is going to be the best in Malaysia. It is a sincere gift to the people of Penang. To be an international city, we must have a similar wharf,” he reportedly said on Feb 27, 2016.
Gurney Wharf, a waterfront park spanning nearly 5km eastward from the Gurney Drive foreshore, will be created on reclaimed land by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd (TPD).
It will feature a seaside retail food and beverage area, water gardens, a man-made beach and a coastal grove.
It was also reported that a mall, two hotels, a business centre as well as wellness suites would be built on the site. An eight-lane highway will be constructed across the reclaimed area.
TPD is reclaiming an additional 131 acres along Gurney Drive for the Penang government as per its concession agreement to reclaim land for the Seri Tanjung Pinang II project. TPD was given the rights to reclaim the land by the previous Barisan Nasional government.