THERE is nothing to indicate that Penang should stop pursuing the undersea tunnel project, Chow Kon Yeow told the state assembly today.

The chief minister reiterated that the proposed project, which is at the feasibility study stage, does not have anything to do with charges filed against a person who had cheated the chairman of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, the company undertaking the project.

Chow said the project was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over its tender process in 2013, and an individual had taken advantage of Zenith’s predicament to cheat its chairman with promises to settle the probe.

News of the cheating, involving RM19 million, surfaced early last year ahead of the 14th general election. The DAP-held Penang was then an opposition state.

“What happened last year was, perhaps, due to the election season. MACC investigated, and we gave the agency our full cooperation,” said Chow.

“So far, no party (involved in the project) has been charged. The case has nothing to do with the tunnel’s tender process,” he said, adding that discussion on the matter should end as the case is pending in court.

Businessman G. Gnanaraja, who cheated Zenith chairman Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, was charged last month. He also faces 68 other money-laundering charges unrelated to the project.

Chow said Penang will decide on the fate of the 7.2km tunnel project linking Butterworth and Persiaran Gurney.

“So far, there is nothing indicating that the project cannot continue,” he said in reply to questions on the matter by Yusni Mat Piah (Penaga-PAS).

The chief minister added that the feasibility study by Zenith had been sent to independent checking engineer HSSI Sdn Bhd for checking and verification.

“The comments have been sent back to Zenith for amendments before the state gives its approval for the project.”

He said Zenith has not yet received payment for the feasibility study, and that payment will be made only after the report has been certified by the technical engineer and submitted to the state for approval.

On the three major road projects also undertaken by Zenith, Chow said the first project is expected to start construction in September.

All three roads – the North Coast Pair Road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang (Package 1), Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass (Package 2) and Persiaran Gurney-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu bypass (Package 3) – have received conditional approval for their environmental impact assessment reports.

The roads and tunnel are part of the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan. – May 3, 2019.