MACC: Penang tunnel project probe far from over

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) considers its investigation into the Penang undersea tunnel project to be far from over. It has said more witnesses are expected to be hauled up and suspects will be arrested.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said more time is needed to complete the investigation papers.
"We have recorded statements from 76 witnesses. I expect more will be called up for questioning, and I am not dismissing that more arrests too. I just can't confirm who and when.
"We are still at the investigation stage, so I can't be sure when the investigation papers will be submitted to the Attorney-General. But I assume it's a long way to go," he said today, after witnessing the retirement ceremony of MACC's deputy chief commissioner (management and professionalism) Datuk Seri Mohd Jamidan Abdullah.
Mohd Jamidan, who is retiring after 35 years in service with the MACC and previously, the Anti-Corruption Agency (Aca), will be replaced by Datuk Jaafar Mahad.
To date, two company directors with a "Datuk" title have been arrested by MACC to assist in the probe of the RM6.3 billion tunnel project. They have ben released after the remand period expired.
The project has come under scrutiny in recent months after it was revealed that the cost for the design and feasibility study was RM305 million, with MACC investigators believing the cost was overpriced by five times.
Azam also said the commission would look into a report quoting sources that several politicians were receiving kickbacks during the approval process of the undersea tunnel project.
"I don't want to speculate anything, or name anyone. It's from the papers. For us, investigation is still ongoing. I will look into it (the leaked information). Not all the information may be true, but we'll look into it," he added.
On Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's claim that the MACC was practising a double standard in not probing how the information was leaked, Azam said they have always been professional in their job.
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on MACC's move to withdraw their Certified Integrity Officers (CeIOs) from ministries and agencies they were overseeing, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad remained tight-lipped.
"For us, we feel the case is considered settled, and we will provide our cooperation to the respective agencies to ensure they are free from corruption," he said.
It was reported last week that 47 CeIOs, who were tasked with smoking out corruption and abuse of power in the civil service, have been yanked out from their respective posts following the setting up of the National Integrity and Good Governance Department.
Jaafar, who is the incoming deputy commissioner for MACC effective tomorrow, was previously a Certified Integrity Officer for Petronas.