PETALING JAYA: Talk of DAP parachuting candidates to Ayer Hitam has betrayed its vindictiveness and desperation, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic) said.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who is also Ayer Hitam MP, said the speculation of two DAP MPs to be transferred to contest in his area is a sharp turnaround from the party’s earlier lack of interest in the constituency.

“Initially, it was agreed that this parliament seat was given by DAP to Amanah to contest.

“However, after I started to question DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s scandal, it was announced that the seat will now be taken back from Amanah for DAP to contest,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.

He was referring to the RM6.34bil Penang undersea tunnel and three paired roads project, which he said would cause a financial loss of RM20.54bil to the Penang people in the form of a 30-year toll concession, loss of prime land, etc.

Dr Wee, who is also MCA deputy president, added that another DAP MP was also tipped to contest in Yong Peng state seat, which is under the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat.

He said DAP would be celebrating its anniversary in Ayer Hitam today with Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad invited to announce its candidates here.

Dr Wee said he believed the wise people of Ayer Hitam would see that DAP is not sincere in serving this area.

“It has resorted to parachuting candidates from elsewhere in an attempt to keep me busy here so that I will not be able to continue my questioning about their RM20.5bil scandal,” he said.

Dr Wee said he bid his welcome to Dr Mahathir, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and the rest of the DAP.

“May the best person win. After all, this is democracy,” he said.

Dr Wee and Guan Eng have been trading words over the tunnel project through statements and the media, with Guan Eng refusing an invitation from Dr Wee to have an open debate.

On Friday, Guan Eng’s statement to criticise Dr Wee ended with “a coward is a better fate than being a political lunatic”.

In response, Dr Wee said he welcomed Guan Eng admitting he would rather be a “coward”.

“Those who watch my video will know my calculations are based on sound facts and proof. Thus, I reject being called a political lunatic,” he said.

He said he would describe each of the individual item that made up the financial loss of RM20.54bil in detail next week.

-The Star-