The exchange of barbs between Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong and former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng has escalated with Wee saying that Guan Eng is still acting as if he is helming Penang.

“The Penang chief minister recognised by the federal government is Chow Kon Yeow,” Wee said in a post on his Facebook page in which he blasted Guan Eng as being "shameless" over the Penang ferry issue.

Wee said that replacing the iconic ferry service, which is prone to breakdowns, with catamarans is a more practical move to protect the safety of Penangites and more beneficial to Penang’s travel and transport industries.