He said Liow’s statement had effectively vindicated Penang from allegations of abuse or wrongdoing, as the minister’s remarks corroborated what was revealed by the state government.
For starters, Lim said, Liow had confirmed China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC) as the main contractor for the project.
He said Liow had also confirmed that CRCC was not a shareholder of the consortium project, but merely the main contractor.
These were points that had been reiterated by the Penang government all along, Lim said.
“Liow’s statement makes us wonder whether he has become the spokesperson of CRCC instead of being the transport minister.
“CRCC themselves never contacted us before, even though they are a contracting party with the Penang government.
“We feel whatever Liow is doing is abuse of power, as he has put pressure on CRCC. It is a case of using public office to settle a private dispute,” Lim told reporters today.
Yesterday, Liow said he had met “top leaders” of the CRCC during a ministerial meet in Beijing, China, and that CRCC was aware of the “controversy” surrounding the tunnel-roads project.
Liow said he was told that CRCC was never a shareholder of the consortium but merely the main contractor for engineering, procurement and construction of the project, among others.
The question of CRCC’s role as shareholder arose after MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong claimed the Penang government had previously said CRCC held a stake in the project.
Wee cited a Buletin Mutiara report quoting state secretary Farizan Darus as saying the consortium had a paid-up capital of RM4.6 billion, with Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd and CRCC jointly holding a 70% stake.
The infrastructure project came under renewed scrutiny following a fresh probe and arrests by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last month.
‘Don’t drag my state secretary into this, he will answer after MACC wraps up probe’
Asked to explain Farizan’s 70%-stake claim, Lim said the state secretary could not make any statements now as MACC was investigating the matter.
“Don’t drag my state secretary into this. He cannot answer these claims as the MACC is still investigating.
“As a civil servant, he cannot comment when MACC is investigating.
“If they want to make political points, go for me as a political leader, not apolitical civil servants. He will explain once investigations are over.
“The pressure from MACC and MCA, using the BN media to run down the project, only serves to sabotage our efforts to alleviate traffic congestion in Penang.
“Can MCA be held responsible for sabotage?”
The 7.2km undersea tunnel will connect George Town’s Pangkor Road on the island and Bagan Ajam in Butterworth on the mainland. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2023.
The “three main roads” stretch from Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (5.7km), Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang (10.53km), and Jalan Pangkor-Gurney Drive junction to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (4.1km).
Liow: CRCC confirms it is not shareholder in Penang tunnel’s SPV