Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng previously claimed that the sum, which was part of a RM5.6 million allocation to upgrade federal roads, had been channelled to Tasek Gelugor.

Zairil, who is the state infrastructure committee chairman, said the RM5.6 million was meant to upgrade a trunk road.

He also revealed that RM4.2 million was spent in Bagan, while the balance was spent on Tasek Gelugor, all of which he said was spent on the same road.

The upgrades, he said, were from Jalan Chain Ferry to Jalan Bagan Ajam and, subsequently, to Jalan Teluk Ayer Tawar, with a portion of the last two roads in Tasek Gelugor.

He added that the public works department (JKR) decided to upgrade the entire stretch for the benefit of users.

“I am sure all Bagan road users use this portion of the road as well, which happens to be in Tasek Gelugor.

“However, since the MP for Bagan feels cheated, I asked JKR to get an additional RM1.4 million for Bagan,” he told reporters.

He said there was no ill-intent on JKR’s part when it decided to upgrade the roads, a portion of which happened to be in Tasek Gelugor as the department wanted to ensure continuous comfort for road users.

Zairil said it was not right to accuse officers of being malicious when they are only trying to do their job.

“Don’t go chasing ghosts.”

Lim had recently claimed that the RM1.4 million in funds that were “hijacked” by Tasek Gelugor was the second time such an incident occurred.

He said last year nearly half of the RM1.1 million aid in road repair funds allocated by the prime minister was given to Tasek Gelugor.

Tasek Gelugor’s MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan of Perikatan Nasional expressed shock at Lim’s claim, asking if opposition-held areas were to be left out from development.