MACC raids 12 premises, seizes more documents
THE raids on the offices of companies and state agencies come after a swoop on several premises on Tuesday. The graft-busters say statements have been recorded from 12 people.
THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday raided 12 premises in the state and Kuala Lumpur in its probe into the proposed Penang undersea tunnel project.
This is the second raid conducted in the past 48 hours.
On Tuesday, the MACC raided four state agencies and three companies.
They included the State Secretary’s Office and the offices of the state Public Works, Valuation and Land and Mines Departments.
The private companies raided included Ewein-Zenith Sdn Bhd, 555 Capital Sdn Bhd and Consortium Zenith.
Two company directors, who are datuks, were also arrested the same day to assist in investigations.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed the followup raids.
Azam said MACC had recorded statements from 12 witnesses.
They included officers from the state Treasury Department, state Economic Planning Unit, Public Works Department, Land and Mines Department, as well as the managing director of a private company.
Sources close to the investigation said the raids were conducted to obtain more documents pertaining to the controversial project.
“We have taken more documents with us as we intensify our investigation into the undersea tunnel project.
“We want to look into the agreement contract.
“There are many things we are looking at but our investigation focuses on three main elements — graft, abuse of power and misappropriation,” one source told the NST.
It added that the documents needed to be scrutinised as the agreement appeared “dubious”.
The source also noted that the cost of the project’s feasibility study did not reach RM305 million
as announced previously.
The source added that the cost of the study might not equal the value of the land swap between the state government and the company carrying out the feasibility study.
“There is some suspicion that the state government’s payment may be different from the reported cost of the actual study.
“Investigators are looking at the deal, how it is implemented and whether it abides by the procedures,” the source said.
“The Public Works Department has set a certain amount for the study, but the payment appears to be much higher than the actual amount set.
“This raises suspicion of possible mis appropriation ,” the source added.
Azam, when asked if there would be any new arrests, replied in the negative.
“There is a possibility but for now, we need to investigate the matter thoroughly,” he added, noting that the commission needed more time to probe the case.
Last July, Parti Cinta Malaysia deputy president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan submitted what he said was “evidence of malfeasance” related to the Penang undersea tunnel project.
Azam had said the raids were conducted after MACC received new leads.