This came after Lim said Teng’s “no comment” stance in a report on a news portal over the arrest was cause for concern, with Lim describing it as cowardly.
Teng said his decision to not comment was to allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to complete its probe into the matter.
“Who is he (Lim) to conclude anything when the investigation is still ongoing? I was only asked by Malaysiakini yesterday. All I said was let the issue unfold.
“I cannot understand why the chief minister is so anxious to comment on a matter under investigation when he has failed to answer so many questions pertaining to the undersea tunnel project,” Teng told FMT.
The issue revolves around the arrest of a 37-year-old businessman, who is alleged to have received RM19 million in three different tranches from July to August last year.
He was arrested yesterday by MACC. The anti-graft body obtained a six-day remand order for the man this morning.
On Monday, the news portal had reported that Baling MP Abdul Azeez Rahim and a businessman were issued demand letters by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (Zenith) on Feb 24. Azeez is an Umno supreme council member.
Quoting sources, Malaysiakini said Azeez and the businessman were supposed to do “consultancy work in regulatory compliance and risk management” in relation to the undersea tunnel component.
Azeez was allegedly given RM3 million for the project, while RM19 million was paid to the businessman. FMT cannot confirm at this time if the businessman is the same 37-year-old man arrested yesterday.
Earlier today, Lim asked the MACC why Azeez was not arrested along with the 37-year-old man, lamenting double standards in play.
He said MACC also did not act against newspapers which claimed MACC was investigating Penang government leaders who allegedly received millions in kickbacks.
“In the end, allegations of state leaders receiving kickbacks have been proven to be lies.
“You see how BN leaders like (Umno Pulau Betong assemblyman) Muhamad Farid Saad and (state BN chief) Teng Chang Yeow did not want to comment on the matter.
“They ran away helter-skelter like cowards.”
Lim said Penang leaders had been used as scapegoats.