Ramasamy went into the state MACC headquarters at 9am today to have his statement recorded. After an hour-long lunch break, the questioning continued and he came out at 4pm.
When contacted later, Ramasamy said a total of four officers recorded his statement.
They asked him how familiar he was with the project, and whether he knew the people involved in the project, referring to the two Datuks who were nabbed by the anti-graft body recently.
“They were very polite. They were just doing their job.
“Basically, they wanted to know how well I knew the two bosses, and if I was aware of any kickbacks received in relation to the project.
“They also took down my educational, career and political background, and then zeroed in on whether I was aware of some decisions made in the state executive council on the project.
“I was told to confirm some of the minutes from meetings which I had attended.
“I was also asked about my involvement in the exco meeting when it came to approval of the project,” Ramasamy told FMT.
Accompanying him today was his lawyer, Ajit Singh Jessy.
Ramasamy pointed out that while the MACC officers were very courteous and nice, he did not understand why he was called in for his statement to be recorded.
“I am not really into the project. I have a different portfolio. I do not know why they zeroed in on me.
“It makes sense for them to question Lim Hock Seng, as he is in charge of the public works portfolio.
“Maybe it is because I was writing quite a bit on the project,” he said.
Lim spent 12 hours at the MACC office giving his statement in relation to the project.
MACC has recorded 76 witness statements on the matter to date.
The last major arrest involved the chief executive and an engineer of a consultancy firm, who are alleged to have falsified claims in the feasibility studies and detailed design of the project.
Five people have been arrested and released on bail.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel will connect George Town’s Pangkor Road and Bagan Ajam in Butterworth. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2023.
The Penang government was previously reported as saying that the tunnel is of low priority and can take off later, after the three main highways are completed.
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).