RM3 million blown in 10 months: BN wants answers

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) has said the Pakatan Rakyat state government lacked credibility, accountability and transparency in regard to the Wet World Wild (WWW) Adventure Park fiasco, a RM3 million business investment that collapsed within 10 months.

Its chairman Teng Chang Yeow also criticised the state government for making no attempt to clarify press reports, which disclosed WWW as a brainchild of Theme Park Concepts & Services Sdn Bhd (TPCS) in collaboration with the Penang Global Tourism (PGT) Board.

PGT was set up by the state government to promote tourism.
Teng pointed out that the DAP-helmed state government was well known for its super-efficient and high handed steps in rectifying news that was deemed incorrect or inaccurate.

“But neither the state government nor PGT made any attempts to deny or correct those reports,” he said leading one to believe the reports were correct.

He said the WWW collaboration was reaffirmed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in his speech at the official opening of WWW last Christmas and that it was reportedly closed early this month after strong waves damaged park equipment.

Previously, Teng called on the state government to come clean and provide correct information on the extent of its collaboration. However Lim’s government had used PGT to deny the collaboration yesterday.

Saying PGT was a scapegoat, Teng added, “It is crystal clear that the state government rendered assistance and collaborated in WWW.

“Can we expect better and professional answers that reflect CAT principles of the state government?” asked Teng.

Previously Teng has also asked the state government to clarify on whether the owner of TPCS, which operated WWW and Only World Group, was the same person awarded the RM50 million Komtar rejuvenation project.

He said by avoiding his question so far, the state government had allowed a guessing game to be circulating in business and political circles.

-fmt