‘Undersea tunnel project to go on’
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will proceed with its plan to build the controversial undersea tunnel project despite the ongoing investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that so far, no parties, including the court, had instructed the project to be put on hold.
“(Hence) We will proceed (with the project) unless we are instructed otherwise, by the court.
“We were not aware of the raid done by MACC until we saw the news in the press. However, as I have said before, we will give our full cooperation to the authorities,” he said yesterday.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel, part of the RM6.3 billion project undertaken by Consortium Zenith, includes three paired roads.
The project had caused numerous controversies in recent months, especially on the high cost of the RM305 million feasibility studies as well as the 21month delay in completing them.
In July last year, Parti Cinta Malaysia’s Datuk Huan Cheng Guan submitted evidence of malfeasance related to the tunnel project.
He again presented new evidence to the MACC to aid its probe last week.
MACC raided several state government offices in Komtar, which are involved in the project, on Tuesday.
Also raided in the operation, which began at 9am were several companies with connections to the project.
Speaking on the matter, Lim said that the project’s open tender process was monitored by an international accounting firm.
The Environmental Impact Assessment for the three paired highways was given approval but Lim said that no approval had been obtained for the undersea tunnel connecting Gurney Drive on Penang island and Bagan Ajam on the mainland.
“We will only build it in 2027, so there is no rush.
“We hope this is not an election cycle, not an attack by pro-BN (Barisan Nasional) forces.”