The first ever debate between DAP and Gerakan in Penang over the undersea tunnel could be described as "entertaining" at most, but it fell short of civility as supporters of both sides heckled the debaters.
Held in the Caring Society Complex tonight, the 90-minute debate was moderated by lawyer Lee Khai.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and wife Betty Chew arrived at the venue to loud applause from the crowd at 8.45pm, but he was booed by Gerakan supporters when he entered the hall.
The hall was filled to the brim, with party supporters kept separate, with Gerakan on the right of the stage, and DAP on the left.
Debaters Penang executive councillor Lim Hock Seng and Gerakan's secretary-general Liang Teck Meng took their places on the stage at 9pm.
Liang was the first to take the floor and asked questions on the cost of the tunnel, on the land swap deal with contractor Consortium Zenith-BUCG and the seemingly high cost of RM305 million for the project's feasibility study and detailed design, and the state's "flip flop" in proposing to build a toll-free third bridge to replace the tunnel.
"If we did not raise questions about the tunnel, would the chief minister want a third bridge? Or is this all a sandiwara to divert attention from the tunnel issue?" Liang asked.
Hock Seng took the chance to blast the previous Gerakan-led government for selling prime land at RM1 per sq ft, and for allegedly awarding mega projects to family members without open tender.
Hock Seng explained in detail about how the project was awarded to CZBUCG in 2013.
"A technical team comprising the state's financial officer, engineers from JKR and other agencies, was formed to review the request for proposals from five out of 60 shortlisted companies," Hock Seng said.
"This committee made recommendations to the tender committee headed by the state secretary, who later decided that CZBUCG gave the lowest costs.
"The firm asked for 157 acres of land as compensation which was reduced to 110 acres and a 30-year toll concession," Hock Seng explained. Debaters dissatisfied
At the end of the event, both debaters were dissatisfied as they felt their questions were not answered.
To observers, it appeared both had diverted from the topic of the debate which was titled 'Undersea Tunnel and Three Highways' when the duo started attacking each other’s administration.
Civility reigned the first 10 minutes starting with Liang's opening speech but the crowd, especially on Gerakan's side of the hall, turned noisy when it was Hock Seng's turn to speak.
This agitated Hock Seng, whose speech was later peppered with name-calling like bodoh (stupid), hooligan, samseng (gangster) and celaka (damn).
The security team had to be called in to restrain and pull away a member of the audience from Gerakan's side who turned rowdy.
Gerakan leaders later said the youth was an "agent provocateur".
Tension was high during the debate although no untoward incident happened with Lee Khai coaxing the crowd to calm down, as the audience could not hear the arguments put forward by the debaters.
Hock Seng was especially peeved when Liang touched on the controversial issue of Guan Eng's RM2.8 million bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn which he was accused of buying below market value.
In the much anticipated event, organised by the Penang government, the crowd started building up at the venue at about 7pm, 90 minutes before the debate started.
It all started on June 11 when Liang offered to debate with Hock Seng after the latter rejected the offer to debate on the same issue from Penang Gerakan Youth acting chief Jason Loo.
The RM6.3-billion tolled tunnel and three highways, awarded to CZBUCG via an open tender, had hogged headlines for several months. Its viability continues to be questioned by NGOs and the state's opposition.
The no-toll three-paired highways are slated for completion in 2022, while the tunnel should be ready by 2027.
Hock Seng had earlier explained that the cost of the feasibility study for the three highway projects was only RM51.2 million, while the study for the undersea bed tunnel only cost RM20 million, and not RM305 million.
The RM305 million will also pay for the detailed designs of the projects, while CZBUCG will bear the cost of an additional RM4.9 million for the environmental impact assessment and the detailed environmental impact assessment.
Battle cries, potshots order of the day at debate on the contentious Penang undersea tunnel Tuesday night.
GEORGE TOWN: The debate between Penang Executive Councillor Lim Hock
Seng and Gerakan Secretary-General Liang Teck Meng was a boisterous
affair, as feuding supporters booed and screamed their lungs out as
their leaders spoke on stage.
The 9pm discourse began in a civil manner, with both speakers and
their 1,000-odd supporters restraining themselves at the Caring Society
Hall along Residency Road.
But the last 30 minutes of the debate was marked by a screaming match
between the supporters, including a shift in attention to
“personalities” at the back.
A few last-minute entrants made their own speeches out loud, singing
battle cries, with a large majority of them from the BN bloc.
A shaggy-haired man from the BN bloc, in his 20s, then stood up and
screamed at Lim, offended by the word “stupid” he had used to refer to
the previous Penang BN government.
The man stood on a chair and screamed at Lim, asking him to retract
the words “bodoh” and “celaka” he had used to describe the imposition of
the GST. He was removed by Rela men on standby.
Lim had used the words to hit back at Liang for bringing up Chief
Minister Lim Guan Eng’s bungalow issue. Lim felt Liang had resorted to
personal attacks and was going off topic by bringing it up.
The DAP supporters, were no angels too, with screams of “Rosmah”,
“2.6” (referring to RM2.6 billion donation) also heard from them.
Moderator and well-known lawyer Lee Khai had a tough time managing the crowd, with his impassioned pleas often going unheard.
The debate lasted an hour and 20 minutes, ending at 10.20pm.
The crowd then dispersed, with Lim and Liang’s camps both declaring themselves the winner.
State government's Lim Hock Seng and Gerakan's Liang to face off at public forum.
GEORGE TOWN: A public debate on the state government’s proposed undersea tunnel to the mainland has been set for 9pm on Tuesday (June 28) at the Masyarakat Penyayang Complex here.
Taking part will be the state executive councillor for works, Lim Hock Seng, and Gerakan secretary-general, Liang Teck Meng.
The debate, Three Expressways and Undersea Tunnel, would be conducted in the national language, said Wong Hon Wai, political secretary to the chief minister.
“There will be speeches by the two debaters, followed by a question-and-answer session and winding-up speeches,” Wong said.
Liang had disagreed with a suggestion to have a question-and answer session with the public, he said, and hoped Liang would reconsider.
The Gerakan leader had offered to take the place of Penang Gerakan Youth acting leader, Jason Loo, whose call for a debate had been rejected by Lim.
Loo had arranged a venue but Lim failed to turn up, claiming that all the questions posed on the issue had been answered, so there was no need for a debate on it.
Wong said lawyer Lee Khai would be the moderator for the debate which was expected to take two hours. He said Liang had been requested to arrange for the debate to be broadcast live on television.
“I don’t know yet whether a live television broadcast of the debate is possible or not,” he added.
He advised members of the public to come early if they wished to follow the debate as the hall could only accommodate 500 people. A large screen would be put up outside the debate venue to enable others to follow the debate.
Posted By: Administratoron: June 24, 2016In: Nation, News, Penang
GEORGE TOWN, Jun 24 – Debate between Penang Works, Transport and Utilities Committee chairman, Lim Hock Seng and Gerakan secretary general Datuk Liang Teck Meng regarding on the proposed undersea tunnel project on the state will be held at the Caring Society Complex here. Air Itam Assemblyman, Wong Hon Wai, who is also the political secretary to the Penang Chief Minister, made the announcement at a press conference at Komtar here on Thursday afternoon.
“Medium debate has been agreed by both parties … will be conducted in Malay. The moderator of the debate will be announced later while the name of the moderator has been sent to Liang who is Simpang Renggam MP. We are waiting for his (Liang) confirmation,” he said.
On June 11, Teck Meng had challenged Hock Seng to a debate after the Penang Exco member turned down the challenge by Penang Gerakan Youth acting chief Jason Loo. However, Hock Seng reject the debate on the grounds that he did not recognize the personal Teck Meng.
After that, Hock Seng accept the challenge of the debate on the grounds that he had just recognize Teck Meng, who is also MP for Simpang Renggam. On whether the debate will be aired live, Guan Eng hoped the Teck Meng can arrange live broadcast by any mainstream media.
Meanwhile, he also invited the Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican who reportedly called upon Hock Seng not to avoid the debate. Lim said his state government colleague will not run away and “hide overseas” nor avoid the debate.
The hall was filled to the brim, with party supporters kept separate, with Gerakan on the right of the stage, and DAP on the left.
