THE controversial project to build an undersea tunnel and three major roads in Penang will proceed.

New Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, however, said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should be allowed to continue its investigation into the project but also hoped that the contractor, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, would proceed with work.

With the new government in Putrajaya, “we hope Zenith can have its confidence restored to proceed and finish the feasibility study on the tunnel”, he said.

“Zenith will have to give us a report on the feasibility study on the tunnel.” 

The project has been under MACC scrutiny since January over the incomplete feasibility study despite payments being made and the sell of state land rights. Several companies involved in the project have been investigated.

Zenith has yet to complete the feasibility study on the undersea tunnel, which connects Butterworth on the mainland with Gurney Drive on the island. Barisan Nasional in its election manifesto had pledged to cancel the tunnel, which is part of a larger project including three highways.

Chow said the state was looking at the implementation of two of the three highways, which had already obtained EIA (environmental impact assessment) approval.

The two roads link the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway with Air Itam, and Teluk Bahang with Tanjung Bungah.

“The EIA has been approved, with only some federal land issues pending. We will call Zenith to brief us on the implementation of the roads,” he said. – May 14, 2018.