THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday arrested the chairman of an engineering consultancy firm with the “Datuk Seri” title to assist in investigations into alleged corruption in the Penang undersea tunnel project.

MACC sources said the 62-year-old man was detained at 2.45pm when he went to the agency’s headquarters to give his statement.

“It is believed that he was involved in the preparation of false claims documents for the feasibility study of the Penang project, involving three major roads and an undersea tunnel, worth about RM305 million, that were submitted to the state government.”

The sources said MACC was investigating whether other individuals had abetted the suspect in falsifying the documents.

The agency’s deputy chief commissioner (operations), Azam Baki, confirmed the arrest when contacted, but declined to elaborate.

Yesterday, MACC arrested a female engineering consultant at a Kuala Lumpur-based company to assist in the investigations, and she has been remanded for five days, beginning today.

On January 19, two individuals with the “Datuk” title, who were remanded for six days, were released on bail.

The project, involving a 7.2km tunnel, linking Persiaran Gurney and Bagan Ajam in Seberang Prai, and three major roads, was awarded to Consortium Zenith Construction, which comprises several companies. – Bernama, January 25, 2018.