MRT2 Putrajaya Line: DAP shameless to claim BN’s credit

DAP should give credit where credit is due. Phase 1 of the MRT2 Putrajaya Line is up and running and gaining popularity following its opening on 16 June 2022. However, DAP Kepong MP Lim Lim Eng exploits the MRT2’s operations and attempts to ‘steal the glory’ away from BN’s effort by attributing success of the MRT2 project to the former Pakatan Harapan’s administration.

It is a blessing in disguise that PH fell after 22 months in office. Otherwise, the MRT2 would not only have downsized in scale, it may not even be able to open for operations.

It was the BN government which first introduced the MRT2 project back in 2016. The progress schedule of its construction was:

2021 Q2: Phase 1 /   Project to be completed and operational
2022 Q2:                  Entire route scheduled to be completed and opened for operations.

Despite the project being intended to benefit the rakyat, after Pakatan Harapan (PH) captured power, the Ministry of Finance, headed by Lim Guan Eng, undertook populist measures against this project and forcibly shrank its scale. These include but are not limited to: Deferment of two underground stations; Reduction in the number of train sets / connectivity with the MRT/KTM/ERL/Monorail at interchange stations / number of entrances and link bridges to nearby developments / capacity of multistorey car parks / façade and finishing specifications; Rationalisation of electrical and mechanical system works; Omission of public Wi-Fi at stations - all of which were downsizing under the guise of 'cost savings'.

Isn’t it a coincidence that Lim Lip Eng fails to mention the delay in the project but only highlights how PH ‘saved costs’? He may not have noticed the statement by MMC-Gamuda dated December 10, 2021 which rebuked his comrade Tony Pua. The statement explained that the 60% ‘cost savings’ by PH was actually scope omissions and specification reductions of the entire project.

In other words, the so-called ‘cost savings’ by PH was precisely at the expense, convenience and comfort of public transport users, as well as the quality and integrity of the entire MRT system.

Isn’t it thus disingenuous of Lim Lip Eng to actually credit PH on saving the taxpayers’ wellbeing when it was PH which stalled and downsized the entire project at the expense of the public?

-MCA Online-