GEORGE TOWN, Nov 6 — The Tanjung MCA Youth has hit out at the Penang government over several delayed projects in the state.

MCA Komtar task force head Tan Hing Teik said the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), headed by chief minister Lim Guan Eng, had become a “project delay champion”.

“The delayed projects expose the state government’s lack of competency and efficiency,” he told reporters at Komtar yesterday.

“Is this the competent, accountable and transparent (CAT) government they’ve always talked about?”

Tan said the projects included the RM15 million multi-storey car park at the foot of Penang Hill, and upgrading work at Komtar and Chowrasta Market.

He said the public was disappointed with the state government’s execution of several projects including the upgrading work at Komtar Walk.

Tanjung MCA Youth chief Lim Swee Bok said the Komtar upgrading project, which began in September 2013, was due to be completed by May 22.

“The project has fallen far from schedule and it still appears to be half-completed,” he said.

“We want the state government and PDC to give an explanation for the delay.”

Lim said the staircase where work was being carried out at Komtar Walk was doubled as an emergency exit.

“The area has been blocked and no one can go through it. Who is going to take responsibility if anything were to happen?” he asked.

Trader Mohd Rashid Asrol, 40, said no construction work had taken place in the area for the past three months.

“Many of the businesses here have been affected by the delay as passers-by assumed Komtar is closed because of renovation,” he said.

Mohd Rashid said 60 per cent of business owners had closed shop because of the lack of customers.

“We are happy that the government is trying to revive Komtar but the delay is affecting us,” he said.

Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation chairman Chow Kon Yeow said state executive councillors had been directed to monitor all construction projects under their respective portfolios to unsure they remained on schedule.

He said contractors responsible for the delayed projects would have to pay liquidated and ascertained damages (LAD) that would be calculated daily at a rate of 15 per cent of the project cost.