Ramasamy meets MACC

GEORGE TOWN: Dr P. Ramasamy spent six hours with anti-graft officers, describing the session with them as “nice and cordial” but was also quick to point out that he was not “a suspect”.

The Deputy Chief Minister II said he was even allowed to go out for lunch.

“They didn’t confine me. If they have more questions, they can always call me,” he said yesterday.

He was questioned from 9am to 3.30pm at the Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here. His lawyer Datuk Aljit Singh Jessy accompanied him.

Dr Ramasamy said it took so long because the officers had prepared many copies of the minutes of state exco meetings on the Penang Undersea Tunnel project.

But Dr Ramasamy said he was not involved in the project and could only verify the minutes of meetings which he had attended.

“The officers also asked me whether I knew the people in the special purpose vehicle (SPV). Certainly, I’m not the accused here,” said the state Economic Planning, Education and Human Resources, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman.

Dr Ramasamy said he also told the officers that he was not aware of any issues pertaining to the project until it was reported in the press.

He was the second state exco member to be questioned by the MACC over allegations of corruption in the tunnel project.

On Tuesday, state Public Works Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng was questioned for more than 12 hours.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the exco had officially recorded its protest against the MACC for calling in Dr Ramasamy.

“What has he got to do with the project? Why is MACC questioning people who are not involved in the project?” Lim said at Komtar yesterday.

“The investigation was leaked to the press and the entire process has become a trial by media which is totally unacceptable,” Lim said.