PENANG GOVT URGED TO SIGN SD ON FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Doing so will help it and exco reps regain people’s trust, says PAP vice-chief
PEOPLE’S Alternative Party (PAP) challenged the DAP-led state government to sign a statutory declaration (SD) that none of its executive council (exco) members had received money to approve the feasibility studies for the undersea tunnel and the three paired roads project, as reported in the news recently.
Its vice-chairman, Rahmad Ishak, told the New Straits Times that all the state exco members and the other politicians in the state government must make the SD as a way of safeguarding its credibility.
He said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, as the head of the state government, should do the honours of leading the effort by signing on the dotted line in the SD.
“Even though the source did not reveal which politician or political party was involved, the state government must come forward and do this for its own good.
“The people have a right to know that this government has not committed corruption involving this mega project,” he said when contacted yesterday.
On Saturday, the New Straits Times and several other news agencies reported that several politicians allegedly received between tens of thousands and several million ringgit for their ‘cooperation’ in approving the project’s feasibility studies.
This was revealed by a source who said that the amount was given as kickbacks.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is still trying to establish the mode of payment and how the wrongdoing took place.
Rahmad said the state government should expedite its efforts to make the SD as part of its mitigation exercise.
“Furthermore, this can be used as a legal document to refute the negative claims by others. As I said, simply denying the allegations will bring no benefit.
“The SD will bring back the trust that they need. If they are sincere in gaining the trust, they should proceed with it as quickly as possible,” he added.
Lim said it was deemed impossible for politicians and even government servants to receive kickbacks for the project.
He said in a press statement posted in his Facebook page that Independent Checking Engineer (ICE) was appointed by the state government to provide another mechanism to protect the state government against any malpractice and misfeasance.
“HSSI Sdn Bhd, a professional engineering consultant, was appointed and paid by the state government, to be the ICE to verify and certify the designs and claims made by the project contractor.
“This internal control mechanism appointing external independent professionals to recommend payment of either cash or land swap, makes it impossible for politicians or even government servants to solely decide on the quantum of payment and whether to pay or not to pay,” he said in his statement today.
The controversial RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and the three paired roads project were under investigation by the MACC.
The tunnel project has raised numerous controversies in recent months, especially the high cost of RM305 million feasibility studies as well as the 21-month delay in completing it.
To date, the MACC has raided 42 locations including government agencies and consultant companies in Penang and the Klang Valley.
The graft-buster has also recorded statements from 76 witnesses.