IN DEEP WATER
TOP OFFICIALS LINKED TO UNDERSEA TUNNEL PROJECT ARE
We will recommend action against certain individuals associated with Penang’s controversial RM6.3bil venture, says MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki.
GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) will recommend action against individuals, including top officials, in connection with the controversial RM6.3bil Penang Undersea Tunnel project, says Datuk Seri Azam Baki.
The MACC chief commissioner said investigations would wrap up in two to three weeks with relevant papers sent to the DPP’s office for action against those involved.
He said MACC was also pursuing investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering Act in relation to the project.
“The investigations are in the final stages and we have questioned 32 additional witnesses.
“This is actually a continuation of our previous investigation and not a re-opening of it,” he said when met at the state MACC headquarters here yesterday.
Azam refused to comment when asked if VIPs were involved in the case, saying it was being investigated fairly and would have moved faster if not for the movement control order (MCO) imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“My officers have been given wide powers to arrest anyone to facilitate investigations as the papers on the case were long overdue.
“I did not say it was a ‘cold case’. You should ask the person who said that as investigations have been going on since 2017 when I was leading the team.
“Everyone knows that five investigation papers were opened on the case, completed and referred to the DPP.
“There will be 10 to 15 more witnesses to be interviewed in the coming week and anyone can be arrested, depending on the situation,” he said.
Former Penang Port Commission chairman Jeffrey Chew was arrested and ordered to be remanded until today to facilitate investigations into the case.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow expressed surprise that the case was “reopened” and referred to it as a “cold case” with no further action.
Earlier, MACC officers visited Komtar to interview Deputy Chief Minister ll Dr P. Ramasamy and State Works, Utility and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.
“I was questioned in January 2018 before the general election but they did not ask me anything (yesterday).
“They interviewed my personal assistant and asked her for my work schedule and also talked to the guards outside the office,” Ramasamy told reporters.
It is believed that MACC is looking into why the state government allowed the Penang Tunnel special purpose vehicle (SPV) company to pre-sell state land rights worth RM3bil despite a four-year delay in the construction of roads.
Investigators are believed to be looking into the RM305mil feasibility and detailed design studies that have yet to be completed, even though payment of RM220mil was made to the SPV.