RAMASAMY QUESTIONED OVER UNDERSEA TUNNEL PROJECT
GEORGE TOWN: Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy spent seven hours at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office here yesterday to have his statement recorded over the anti-graft body’s probe into the state’s proposed RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and three paired roads project.
Accompanied by his lawyer, Datuk Aljit Singh Jessy, he arrived at 8.45am and left about 4pm.
Ramasamy said MACC had wanted him to confirm matters on the project’s minutes of meetings.
“The investigating officers asked about the tender process as it was tabled at the state executive council meeting.”
Ramasamy is the state Economic Planning, Education and Human Resources, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman.
He is the second state executive council member in two days to be quizzed by MACC.
On Tuesday, state Public Works Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng spent 12 hours at the MACC office to have his statement recorded on the same issue.
The project had raised controversies in recent months, especially on the high cost of the RM305 million technical studies, as well as the 22-month delay in completing them.
MACC had initiated the probe following reports by Parti Cinta Malaysia deputy president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan.
MACC’s act of questioning Ramasamy had raised the ire of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who yesterday labelled it “politically-motivated”. He said Ramasamy did not hold any portfolio in relation to land and public works in the state.
In response, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad told the Penang government to allow the commission to carry out its duties.
He said the two were asked to come forward to have their statements recorded as witnesses.