WHAT appears to be a straight forward edict from the Selangor Palace admonishing those who claim credit from the eventual implementation of the LRT3 Shah Alam Line has notably turned out to be a sore point for DAP disciplinary committee chairman Tony Pua.
This is after he in the capacity as an aide and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng were taken to task by vocal Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for having a part in the delay of the LRT3 project which took off in November 2015 with pre-qualification works for the rail line.
This culminated in its launch by now incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam on Aug 24, 2016.
“When the government changed in 2018, the LRT3 project was delayed for more than 18 months with an additional 19 months due to the COVID-19 outbreak until 2021,” recounted the 80-year-old ruler in his latest decree.
At that time, finance minister Lim Guan Eng from DAP together with his adviser Tony Pua reduced the investment cost for this project on grounds that this was a ‘mega’ project when they did not understand that the purpose of this LRT3 project is to meet the needs and wants of Selangorians.
I would like to emphasise that this is not a mega project and not a project to boast about but a project for the interest and well-being of my subjects.
When the Finance Ministry (MOF) was under the administration of Guan Eng (DAP) and Tony Pua (DAP), the size of each station and the number of train carriages were further reduced. Five proposed station locations on the line were also cancelled.”
At a glance, Sultan Sharafuddin’s jibe at the DAP duo has riled up the rightist fraternity across cyberspace for it handed them more reasons to undermine the party as unpatriotic while raising the stature of Bossku as “the rightful architect” of the LRT3 project.
Just state your facts, figures
This is when Pua who had previously ruffled the Selangor Palace’s feathers over the pig farming controversy countered with his self-styled jibe on his FB page:
If someone powerful gets his/her facts wrong and tarnishes my reputation, can/should I sue for defamation?
Do I have the right to defend myself? Or will I receive more police reports? 🤔”
A check at the darndest reaction from his fanbase has one commenter para-phrasing the DAP loyalist’s thoughts by asking, “If politician lie to peoples (free tol), can peoples sue them? [sic]?”
On as more serious note, few commenters advised Pua to simply lay bare and let the facts and figures do the talking.
“I think we’re all very curious about the facts. Since ‘they’ have made a claim, perhaps you should come with facts and figures as evidence to debate against that,” proposed one learned commenter.
Truth of the matter is, the sentiment towards PH (Pakatan Harapan) surrounding the LRT3 project isn’t positive because everyone thinks the project was trimmed down excessively without considering the future. Even I think the same.
“I believe i speak for a lot of us when I say we are looking to be proven wrong on this matter. Show us that the cost cutting measures were truly done with proper planning.”Another chipped in: “If it involves the yellow umbrella, just reveal your facts. Don’t need to name anyone. Let the truth speak by itself.”
Many seconded that a courteous rebuttal from Pua “for the rakyat to judge” is key as opposed to direct confrontation.
Senior journalist-turned-political commentator Andrew Sia defended the former three-term MP (two-term Petaling Jaya Utara and one-term Damansara) and Guan Eng by wondering “how is saving rakyat’s money by bringing down the overpriced LRT3 project from RM31.6 bil to RM16.6 bil wrong”.
The bottom-line is Pua should not be risking his well-being further unless he possesses the proverbial nine lives of the feline, one commenter aptly summed up. – July 2, 2026
