Take action on tunnel probe leaks, Guan Eng tells MACC

The chief minister says MACC must take action against media outlets that may have jeopardised investigations by revealing matters that are classified as secret.

GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should take action over leaked details of a probe into the Penang undersea tunnel and highways project in Barisan Nasional-controlled newspapers, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

In a statement, Lim said he was “surprised” that MACC is keeping mum on the issue when investigation matters are supposedly confidential and given statutory protection to prevent prejudiced investigations.

He said BN media, such as The Star, Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, continued to run unverified stories quoting sources from the MACC, despite failing to show proof of their claims.

Lim said to avoid the perception of double standards, the MACC should take action against newspapers which published “source” stories, which the MACC was not fond of before.

He said failure by the MACC to investigate claims, such as the Penang government “pre-selling” RM3 billion worth of land, would only make the public assume that this was a pre-election witch-hunt.

“In the past, MACC has acted promptly against those who leaked information on social media or to the press. However, its attitude now is surprisingly different.

“Can the MACC take action against these ‘sources’ leaking confidential information of MACC investigations?” he asked in a statement today.

Lim also lamented the extensive coverage given by The Star on the probe by MACC on the tunnel and highways project, which he said was an open tender project.

He also wondered why the daily had not given the same treatment to MACC probes on projects awarded by the BN, especially those without an open tender.

“The MACC must be an independent body free from any political interference or directive to be able to carry out its job to rid the nation of the scourge of corruption, including 1MDB and Felda corruption scandals,” he said.

Earlier this week, MACC began a probe into the Penang government and the construction companies involved in the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and three highways project.

Two executives with “Datuk” titles were remanded by the MACC and some 20 people have had their statements recorded to date.

The Penang government said its doors were open to being investigated and reiterated there was no wrongdoing on its part.

The state government had also said since the project was awarded via open tender, all dealings were made in a transparent manner, without the involvement of the chief minister or his executive councillors. -FMT