MACC finds new evidence in probe

PETALING JAYA: Graft-busters have received new leads in their probe into the Penang undersea tunnel project and are now looking into possible kickbacks received by certain groups.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said his team had discovered new evidence but he declined to comment further.

“Let us carry out our investigation first. We are still in the process of recording statements from key witnesses.

“We have since visited 41 premises, including consultant firms and government agencies in Penang and the Klang Valley,” said Azam, adding that more than 70 witnesses had been questioned.

A source familiar with the investigation said the MACC suspected that several “stakeholders” had received monetary rewards from the feasibility study of the project.

“Investigators are looking into how and where the funds were channelled to.

“They are also not ruling out the possibility that there was malpractice in one of the processes to undertake the project,” said the source, declining to reveal further details as it might jeopardise the investigation.

The MACC, said the source, was only investigating the feasibility study for the mega project and not the implementation of the construction or the tender process.

“The investigators are not disputing the tender process but they are looking into whether there were corporate interests in granting the feasibility study project.

“The team is also determining if the companies appointed actually wanted to carry out the study or was this used only as a reason to obtain two plots of land,” said the source, adding that the probe would also centre on why the payment for the study was made via land swaps.

The source denied allegations that the investigation was to disrupt the project as it only focused on the feasibility study, adding that at RM305mil, the value is believed to be inflated.