In a statement, he said it was done via a Request for Proposal (RFP) exercise where a company was selected for further negotiations before the agreement signing.
See-To referred to a news report today, quoting a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission source, that said the MACC investigation was zeroing in on the tender process and appointment of the company to carry out the feasibility study for the tunnel project.
See-To said this was an interesting development.
He said the Penang government should release the minutes of why the winner was selected, why others were rejected and who attended.
He wanted the state government to reveal what was discussed during the negotiations with the winner, “prior to the final agreement that led to such lop-sided terms that are in favour of the contractor and at the expense of the people of Penang”.
“Allowing many to participate in an open RFP is not the most important question but how and on what basis the final party was selected and the negotiations after that.”
MACC has visited a number of locations in Penang and Kuala Lumpur to obtain documents related to the Penang undersea tunnel mega project for its investigation into alleged power abuse and misappropriation.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Azam Baki said the agency had recorded the statements of 11 witnesses and would investigate the case from all angles fairly.
He declined to say whether the investigation team had uncovered new evidence.
“Allow us to conduct a thorough investigation and ascertain whether there was any element of corruption and abuse of power as alleged.”
According to an MACC source, the investigation was zeroing in on the tender process and appointment of the company to carry out the feasibility study for the project.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel project, connecting Gurney Drive on Penang island and Bagan Ajam on the mainland, and construction of three main roads, was awarded to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, which comprises a number of companies.
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