THREE Penang excos were today summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to give their statements in relation to the state’s undersea tunnel project.

Three-term exco Phee Boon Poh arrived at the MACC office in a state government vehicle at 2.20pm. Women and family development exco Chong Eng was seen at the office earlier.

Jagdeep Singh Deo, who holds the local government, housing, town and country planning portfolio, was spotted entering the MACC office at 9.25am. He left some three hours later.

Three MACC officers were seen at Komtar. They went to the 53rd floor, where Jagdeep’s office is located.

Investigations into the undersea tunnel project intensified following the arrest of former Penang Port Commission chairman Jeffrey Chew last week.

He was remanded for four days, and released on Saturday.

Chong, who left the MACC office at 3.20pm, said she had been there since 11.20am.

She confirmed to the press outside the questioning was over the undersea tunnel project and three proposed highways.

She said MACC officers asked her questions about her background and also to confirm the minutes of some meetings.

Corruption allegations on the RM6.3 billion tunnel project were first raised by Malaysia Today blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin in articles last year.

He has been sued for defamation by former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, who led the state government when the project was mooted.

Lim won his defamation suit in February.

The undersea tunnel is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan.

Lim has denied corruption allegations and said the project was awarded through open tender.

MACC is expected to complete the investigation papers into the tunnel project and submit them to the public prosecutor in about two to three weeks, the anti-graft agency’s chief commissioner Azam Baki said recently. – July 6, 2020.