MACC deputy commissioner Azam Baki said this today in clarifying that the anti-graft body was in the process of engaging technical experts and external consultants to make an evaluation on the value of the feasibility studies carried out.
“As these involve matters that are technical, it will take time.
“We are in the process of engaging these experts and consultants,” he said at a press conference after the launch of MACC’s mascot in Kepala Batas near here today.
Azam was responding to a question on why the MACC was taking such a long time in the tunnel probe.
Azam said to date, a total of 127 witnesses have been called to assist in investigations.
“The probe is still ongoing, but I do not know how many more people will be called. It will still take time.
“I also cannot say if those who have been called before will not be called again to assist in the investigation,” he said in response to a question concerning Lim Hock Seng and P Ramasamy, two state executive councillors who were called in for questioning on Feb 13 and 14 respectively.
Azam reiterated that for the time being, there was no need to call in Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Hock Seng, who is state Public Works Committee chairman, was questioned for 12 hours, while Ramasamy, who is deputy chief minister II, was questioned for six hours by the MACC.
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 tunnel’s feasibility study, a topic of contention between government and opposition leaders, was at 95.9% as of last December.
The Penang government has been 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).
Penang exco man breaks down costs for undersea tunnel, roads
Chow says Penang BN wrong about cost of tunnel-roads study, again