PENANG Barisan Nasional today denied allegations by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, the coalition is sabotaging the undersea tunnel and highways project.

Its chairman Teng Chang Yeow said if the project suffered any delays, it was because of the state government’s lack of transparency, accountability and competency in coming clean on the project.

“You sabotaged yourself. Don’t point the finger at us,” he told a press conference at the state Gerakan headquarters.

He said the government stated at the legislative assembly in May last year the project was expected to start in the middle of this year, pending the approval of the EIA (environmental impact assessment), land acquisitions and completion of reclaimed land to be used as payment for the project.

“BN leaders only started to revisit the project about two weeks ago. How could our action delay the project when the state expected the project to start only in the middle of this year?

“We never went to court to delay the project or moved for a motion to be tabled at the state legislative assembly to stall it.

“When they (DAP) were in the opposition, they tabled a motion to stop the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR),” the former state exco said.

The tunnel and highways project is Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation.

Lim had earlier this week blamed BN for causing the project to be delayed after another BN leader, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wee Ka Siong questioned why the project had yet to begin despite being awarded to its contractor in 2013.

Lim said the EIA approval for the three highways, which were part of the larger RM6.3 billion project, was only obtained late last year, and soon after that, people were arrested to help MACC’s investigation.

Teng also questioned why the state government made the 3.7 acre land swap payment worth RM208 million to the project contractor, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, before the EIA approval was received in writing.

He said Lim stated in his press conference yesterday the EIA approval letter had not been received.

“Since they have not received the letter, how could the state government make the payment on hearsay of the approval, and not by documented proof?”

Teng said they also found the state government made the land swap payment before the highways’ feasibility studies and detailed designs (FSDD) was completed.

He cited a reply at the state legislative assembly on April 30, 2015 which stated FSDD were 97% and 75% ready respectively.

But in a reply at the assembly in May 19, 2017, the state said FSDD was ready in May 2015, and for the purpose of payment for the completion of the studies, 3.7 acres of land in Bandar Sri Tanjong Pinang was alienated to the consortium on February 17, 2015. 

“It is amazing FSDD could be ready 100% in a month’s time, but we give the state the benefit of the doubt.

“But the issue here is the land was transferred to the company three months ahead of the completion of the FSDD. 

“This is serious misleading by the state on the issue of payment at the legislative assembly. When the state misleads the assembly, it is misleading the people,” he said. – January 27, 2018.