GEORGE TOWN, Aug 5 — Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong is willing to pull out from contesting in the state election if caretaker chief minister Chow Kon Yeow cancels the controversial Penang South Islands (PSI) project.

The state Perikatan Nasional (PN) vice-chairman who is also its candidate for the Pantai Jerejak seat accepted Chow’s challenge thrown down last Wednesday and said he will withdraw immediately if the mega project is called off.

“I am willing to do this for the well-being of the people of Penang, especially for the rights and benefit of those affected by the project,” he said in a statement today.

Oh accused the caretaker state government of stubbornly continuing the reclamation project that will destroy the environment and the fishing community’s source of income despite protests by locals and non-governmental organisations.

“The state government’s excuse was to get funding for its LRT project but they have since obtained funding from the federal government and yet they are still going ahead with the project,” he said.

He said the only parties to benefit and gain huge profits from the PSI project are the developer and a large consortium.

“Similarly, in the undersea tunnel project, the developer and large consortium had gained billions but the local communities and fishermen were the ones suffering,” he said.

Chow challenged Gerakan three days ago to quit the elections to protest against its PN ally, PAS’ extremism, if it has any self-respect.

“This is illogical because PAS is not governing Penang but Chow already wants us to withdraw in protest against PAS. Protest against what?” Oh asked.

Chow had reportedly made that comment when asked about PAS’ alleged snub of Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau at a PN ceramah in Penang that was to feature the Islamist party’s president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Lau said he had turned up uninvited but has denied that he was asked to leave as widely reported.

PAS has since issued an apology to Lau while the latter had brushed it off as a small matter and said he wants to move forward with the elections.

Lau is challenging Bayan Lepas incumbent Azrul Mahathir Aziz from Pakatan Harapan (PH) in a straight fight for the seat.

Pantai Jerejak is a four-way contest in which Oh will be squaring off against Fahmi Zainol who is making his electoral debut to defend the PH seat, another newcomer Priyankaa Loh Xiang Pin, from Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, and Ravinder Singh, 81, from Parti Rakyat Malaysia.