THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is recording the statements of witnesses and inspecting documents from state government offices in Komtar as it investigates allegations of graft in the undersea tunnel project. 

MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki said investigators had been to 12 locations, including government offices and private companies connected to the project,  in Penang and Kuala Lumpur to gather evidence and take down statements. 

Investigators had recorded the statements of 12 officers from the state finance and economic planning departments, the public works office, and land and minerals office, he said. 

A company managing director was among the 12 people MACC interviewed, Azam said. 
 
“There are no other arrests for now. The investigation team is just recording statements to get more information. 

“But I cannot say there will not be anymore arrests. There may be, if we get new information or evidence in the investigation,” he said in a statement today. 

On Tuesday, MACC raided several state government offices, a construction firm, a property development firm and one other company as part of investigations into the project.

Two company directors from the construction firm and property development company are in remand until next Monday to assist in investigations.

MACC is understood to be studying documents related to the project’s tunnel feasibility study contract. 

It is also understood that the commission went to the land and minerals office to peruse more documents related to the mega project. 

MACC is reported to be checking if the RM305 million cost of the project’s feasibility study tallied with the value of the land the state swapped in exchange for the study contractor’s services.

There are “concerns” of that fund may have been misappropriated by way of overpayment for the study. 

The tunnel project which includes the building of three highways was awarded to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Consortium Zenith BUCG) in an open tender in 2013. 

Earlier today, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government had not paid a single sen for the tunnel and that the feasibility study was 92% complete.

He said the state had so far only paid the contractor RM208 million for the completed and approved EIAs (environmental impact assessments) for the three highways – the 10.53km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road on the northern coast; the 5.7km Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway-Air Itam bypass; and the 4km Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway-Persiaran Gurney bypass.

There was expectation that anti-graft officers would visit Lim at his Komtar office today to pick up documents for inspection.

Lim had told reporters during a press conference earlier that MACC had previously contacted his private secretary to ask questions and for documents, but had not asked to see him.

Since afternoon, reporters had staked out Komtar, near the level 3 entrance to the state government’s suite of offices. 

Reporters were not allowed to go up to the chief minister’s office, said the security guards at the tower lift lobby. 

Several aides from the chief minister’s office on Level 28 said they too had heard rumours of an impending MACC visit today, but it had not materialised.

Shortly after 6pm, Lim surprised the waiting media when he and his staff came down from his office in the tower and took a 600m walk to Toh Soon cafe on Lebuh Campbell. 

“I am so delighted to see the media. You are so kind to accompany me on a short evening walk to the cafe,” he said. 

Lim said he was not giving a press conference because “the real story is the food and coffee at Toh Soon cafe”, which he only got to enjoy occasionally.

Asked if he was expecting MACC officers at his office, he replied: “Says who?” before turning the conversation back to the cafe.

“This place is the best in Penang and the world. It’s a place that serves all races.” 

The DAP secretary-general and PH deputy president is facing tough months ahead. Apart from being in the centre of the MACC investigation into graft in the tunnel project, he is due in March to go on trial for corruption over the rezoning of two agricultural land in Balik Pulau. Lim has said that the trial could prevent him for contesting in the next general election.

“Whatever tomorrow brings, the Penang spirit teaches us to face it with equanimity and determination to do our best,” he said.  – January 11, 2018.