Penang BN requests assistance from China's consul-general on undersea tunnel investigation

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth is seeking the help of China to get to the bottom of the controversial RM6.3 billion cross-channel undersea tunnel.
They submitted an official letter today to the People's Republic of China Consul-General's office here on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, seeking diplomatic assistance to track down the main contractor.
Its state chief, Hng Chee Wey, said the letter's purpose is to seek assistance from the consulate to contact an official representative of the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), the main contractor in the mega infrastructure project, so that they can clarify some issues arising from it.
In an immediate response, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng condemned BN for resorting to petty arguments and falsehoods in a vain attempt to prolong their attempts to sabotage the project.
Lim said he had initially refused to bring himself down to the childish level of MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong over the project, but the state executive council felt that it was necessary to clarify the issue.
Lim said the agreement was fully binding and it was stamped to indicate that the agreement signed with the CRCC was valid.
Also according to Lim, CRCC's representatives had signed the documents twice.
Later, state local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said there were altogether 34 consultants involved in the proposed three-paired highways and the undersea tunnel, not just CRCC.
This is the reason for the RM305 million cost of the study.
BN has alleged a series of dubious transactions related to the undersea project link from Bagan Ajam in Butterworth to Gurney Drive on the island.
"We have submitted a letter to the consul-general's office and hope some issues regarding the project can be explained to us," Hng said.
He said among the questions raised in the letter were whether it was true that CRCC had signed a contract with Consortium Malaysia Zenith BUCG Co Ltd to design the three highways and the undersea tunnel at the cost of US$22 million (RM85.6 million).
He said the agreement was shown in the state assets supervision and administration commission (Sasac) of the State Council website.
The letter also seeks to find out whether the website is the official website for Sasac, as well as asking clarification on whether CRCC is a shareholder of the project's special purpose vehicle (SPV).