Penang to proceed with undersea tunnel project despite raids

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will proceed with the RM6.3 billion proposed undersea tunnel project with its three paired road projects unless instructed otherwise by the courts following raids by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
In stating this, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today said the project will go ahead as usual as open tender has already been granted and there is no reason to halt it.
He , however, said the state will abide by court's order if things turned out differently following the controversies surrounding the proposed project.
Lim said the state governemnt was not aware of the raids carried out by the anti-graft agency until they were highlighted in the media.
The government also pledged not to interrupt in MACC's course of investigation.
"We want them to investigate freely without fear or favour," he said when asked on several raids carried out in government offices in Komtar on Tuesday.
Lim also noted that the tender process is monitored by an international accounting firm in which Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was approved for three highway projects.
However, no approval has been given yet for tunnel project but Lim said it is alright as it is scheduled to start its work 2027.
MACC has conducted large scale raids at several places in the state including multiple state agency offices in Komtar.
Teams from MACC raideded Ewin-Zenith Sdn Bhd, 555 Capital Sdn Bhd and Consortium Zenith Sdn Bhd offices.
MACC also raided the state Public Work Department, State Secretary and Land & Mineral Department offices in Komtar.
Two company directors have also been detained and remanded in Putrajaya and Penang magistrate's courts.
Lim also pledged that the state will give its fullest cooperation to the graft buster following the raids.
He said he is puzzled why the investigation initiated since two years ago had not concluded. He hoped MACC would shed light on the Perda land sale in South Seberang Prai district.
Lim said he knew that MACC was investigating the land sale reportedly below market value but noticed no such huge media coverage being given compared to the tunnel project.
"Is this part of the election cycle?" he asked.