‘More questionable transactions’
> Penang BN: We have only ‘scratched surface’ of undersea tunnel issue
GEORGE TOWN: Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) believes there are more questionable transactions done under the proposed RM6.3 billion cross-channel undersea tunnel other than what the coalition had disclosed since last week.
Its chairman, Teng Chang Yeow, said BN has just “scratched the surface” of a long and complicated issue involving the tunnel.
“But we feel that we are doing the right thing in questioning the issue. It is a public project due to the funds in the form of land swaps, which the state has committed.
“It is the future of Penang we are talking about,” he said.
BN’s bone of contention was that the land was swapped before it was reclaimed, so technically something went wrong when there was no land title or grant issued.
Another issue was the yet to be completed feasibility study which costs a whopping RM305 million.
Teh is also questioning the companies which are behind Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, that had won the open tender bid to become the project delivery partner.
Teng said according to China Railway Construction Corporation International, the main contractor for the project, the cost of design works and the feasibility study was said to be RM236 million.
“However, according to the report of the state public accounts committee dated Oct 19, 2015 and the state’s reply on May 19, last year, the total value of the study and design costs was RM305 million.”
“Where did an extra RM69.3 million come from?”, Teng asked during yesterday’s press conference.
Land swap means the sale of assets belonging to the people of Penang, Teng said.
Teng also said his lawyers have almost finalised plans to file a defamation suit against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.