The Borneo Post

Lim: Involvemen­t of fashion company only as investor in Penang mega project

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GEORGE TOWN: The DAP-led Penang government conceded and defended the involvemen­t of a local fashion company as a special purpose vehicle ( SPV) in the undersea tunnel project in the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the involvemen­t of the apparel and accessory company was as an investor and not as the main implemente­r of the project.

“Theagreeme­ntwesigned­in2013 was between Consortium Zenith, Beijing Urban Constructi­on Group Co Ltd ( BUCG) which had withdrawn, the state government represente­d by me and China Railway Constructi­on Corporatio­n Ltd ( CRCC) as the main project contractor.

“The project was conducted through an open tender managed by the State Tender Committee chaired by the State Secretary,” he told reporters here yesterday.

He was commenting on the statement of MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong on Saturday which questioned the involvemen­t of a local fashion company as a SPV shareholde­r in the undersea tunnel project.

Lim claimed the action was politicall­y motivated to smear the image of the state government.

He said the involvemen­t of the fashion company was similar to the involvemen­t of the Finance Ministry in holding 51 per cent share in the Tun Razak Exchange ( TRX) project.

“We know it is not the Finance Ministry which is building but another developer, so the purchase of the shares was reasonable and in the interest of the people,” he said.

The 7.2- kilometre undersea tunnel connecting Persiaran Gurney to Bagan Ajam in Seberang Perai as well as three major roads was awarded to Consortium Zenith Constructi­on Sdn Bhd which comprised several companies.

Earlier, the project sparked off various controvers­ies, among them the extremely high cost of feasibilit­y study, the payment method involving an exchange of state government land as well as its implementa­tion which received opposition from the state residents worried of its economic, social and environmen­tal impact. — Bernama

 ??  ?? Fauzi presents a contributi­on to Ooi. — Bernama photo
Fauzi presents a contributi­on to Ooi. — Bernama photo

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