PENANG GOVT OFFICES RAIDED

Various raids conducted to seize documents in malfeasance probe

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission seizes documents from four state agencies and three companies over the probe into the proposed undersea tunnel project. The raid was conducted after Parti Cinta Malaysia submitted new evidence on the project to MACC last week.

SEVERAL state government offices in Komtar involved in the proposed Penang undersea tunnel project were raided by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday.

MACC also raided several companies connected to the project in the operation which began at 9am.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed the raids were conducted to assist investigations into the multi-billion ringgit project, which will connect Gurney Drive on Penang island with Bagan Ajam on the mainland.

Sources close to the investigation said the commission would look through all the seized documents.

“We have taken all related documents to assist us in our investigations after issues were raised about the project. The raids are conducted following the new leads received,” sources said yesterday afternoon.

It is learnt that MACC raided the State Secretary’s office and the offices of the state Public Works, Valuation, and Land and Mines Departments here.

The private companies raided included Ewin-Zenith Sdn Bhd, 555 Capital Sdn Bhd and Consortium Zenith.

However, when contacted by the New Straits Times, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd senior executive director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli denied any knowledge that the company had been raided.

Last July, Parti Cinta Malaysia vice -president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan had submitted evidence of malfeasance related to the project. Huan again presented new evidence to the MACC last week.

The project had become controversial in recent months, especially on the costly RM305 million feasibility study, as well as the 21-month delay in completing it.