Lim said instead, the anti-graft body had decided to scrutinise Penang’s project to build an undersea tunnel and three main roads – which was awarded through open tender.
“They have not answered why the undersea tunnel and three main roads project is deemed to have corrupt elements, and then you have the ECRL project which was not awarded by open tender.
“Why has the MACC not investigated a project that was not awarded by open tender?” he asked in a press conference today.
Lim was commenting on MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki’s denial that the anti-graft body was practising double standards in its investigation of the project in Penang.
Lim also pointed out that Azam did not want to comment on the “false reports in Barisan Nasional media” which had stated that there were kickbacks received by certain key politicians in the project.
“This is despite me saying many times that not a single sen was paid to the contractor, and not a square inch of land given for the tunnel project.”
Lim said the amount paid by the state was for the three main roads, and this was done separately.
“This is also after an engineering consultant had reviewed, checked and subsequently made recommendations to the state government, then only we paid.
“We did not even pay the full amount as recommended by HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd, which is also involved in the ECRL project,” he said.
Lim said the MACC had acted swiftly when Johor Menteri Besar Mohd Khaled Nordin was implicated after information was leaked pertaining to the housing scandal in Johor.
Lim pointed out that the MACC’s reaction was swift, stating that the information leaked was false, and it quickly took action, but in the case of the undersea tunnel and three main roads project, the MACC had allowed the false reports by BN media to happen on a daily basis “even when I said there are no corrupt elements”.
“This shows there is clearly double standards. I hope the MACC can ensure their integrity remains intact, that they are not involved in any abuse of power just to achieve political goals as the 14th general election draws closer.
“Let MACC not be tarnished by negative impressions of them abusing their powers, or carrying out a political witch hunt against opposition parties or leaders, with baseless and untruthful allegations as printed in the BN media, and where the MACC has failed to take action against these false leaks,” he added.
Azam reportedly denied Lim’s accusations, saying that the MACC is professional in doing their job.
He had said that MACC would look into the information leak on the tunnel project, as not all of the information was true.
The RM6.3 billion infrastructure project found renewed scrutiny from the BN following a fresh probe by the MACC.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel will connect George Town’s Pangkor Road and Bagan Ajam in Butterworth. It is scheduled to begin in 2023.
Its feasibility study, often a topic of contention between BN and opposition leaders, is now 92% completed. The Penang government had said the tunnel was of low priority and could take off later, after the three main roads were completed.
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