Lim: We’re not happy with contractor’s reply on graft allegations

GEORGE TOWN: The state is dissatisfied with the response from the Penang Undersea Tunnel contractor on claims that it paid RM22mil to cover up anti-graft investigations on the project.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state exco was “not happy” with the reply given by Consortium Zenith Construction (CZC) but would not divulge details on the explanation.

“We received the response last week but we are not satisfied. We have written to them for clarification,” he said during a press conference at this office.

The state government issued the letter to CZC on March 2, following allegations it paid RM19mil to a Datuk Seri and RM3mil to a Datuk to help stop investigations by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The 37-year-old Datuk Seri was arrested last month by MACC to assist in the investigation while the 64-year-old Datuk was arrested early this month.

So far, six people have been arrested in the course of MACC’s investigations.

Since the recent arrests, the state government – which expressed shock over allegations of corruption in the tunnel project – has been cristicised for seeming to have no direct communication with the tunnel contractor.

Lim earlier said they contacted the contractor by letter because “we want to put everything officially”.