The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has raided the premises of four state government agencies and three companies in Penang in relation to the state’s proposed RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.
Early yesterday, an MACC team raided the offices of the Penang Public Works Department, Penang State Secretary, Penang Office of Lands and Mines, and Penang Valuation and Property Services Department in Komtar.
The three companies raided were property development and construction companies, namely Ewin-Zenith Sdn Bhd, 555 Capital Sdn Bhd and Consortium Zenith Sdn Bhd.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said some documents were seized in the raids to get more information on the undersea tunnel project.
He was quoted as saying that the raids were based on new evidence submitted to the anti-graft agency recently.
Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice-president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan had lodged a report on July 21 and another at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Jan 5.
He handed over several documents to the MACC, which he claimed contained fresh evidence of alleged corruption in the undersea tunnel project.
The controversial 7.2km undersea tunnel, which was awarded to Consortium Zenith, was proposed to connect Gurney Drive on the island to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth as part of the state’s Penang Transport Master Plan to ease traffic congestion in the state.
The feasibility studies for the tunnel were delayed for almost two years and last October, Consortium Zenith claimed there was no hurry to complete the studies as the project is only expected to start in 2023.