PETALING JAYA: Words like "political lunatic", "coward", "mad" and even "ninja assassin" have taken the verbal combat over the Penang Undersea Tunnel project up a notch.

"I welcome Lim admitting he'd rather be a coward. However, those who watch my video will know my calculations are based on sound facts and proof. Thus, I reject being called a political lunatic," said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic) about Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in a Facebook post on Saturday (March 17).

On Friday, Lim issued a statement to criticise Dr Wee and ended with the words "a coward is a better fate than being a political lunatic".

The bone of contention was Dr Wee's claim that Penangites stood to lose RM20.5bil if the tunnel project came to fruition.

Even though the development and construction cost that the state government agreed to was RM6.3bil, Dr Wee revealed how the 30-year toll concession period for the tunnel and soaring prices of prime land in the Gurney Drive area – where land given to the tunnel contractor as payment is located – will cost Penangites RM20.5bil.

Lim repeatedly denied this figure and even said that his wife, Betty Chew disagreed with Dr Wee.

Dr Wee criticised Lim for bringing his wife into the picture, especially when Lim's father, Kit Siang, had also spoken about the issue.

"I wonder who will Lim trot out next to defend himself? His uncle, his sister or his auntie?

"Over the next week, if need be, I will describe each of the individual items that make up this RM20.5bil," Dr Wee said.

-The Star-