Teng queries why RM11m paid to consultant if zero paid for tunnel

Is the Penang state government lying, asked state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow in his response to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's claim that not a single cent was paid for the undersea tunnel project.

At a press conference in Penang today, Teng pointed to a written reply by state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng at the state legislative assembly on Nov 2, that RM11.2 million was paid in cash to HSSI Sdn Bhd.

"If not a single cent was paid for the project, why did the Penang government pay RM11.2 million to HSSI Sdn Bhd, an independent technical consultant, to verify and certify claims made by the project contractor - Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (Zenith)," asked the state Gerakan chief.

"Everything you paid for a particular project, whether A, B or C, contributes to the total cost of the project.

"It is part and parcel of the full cost. You cannot say you did not pay a single cent, you have paid," Teng added.

A video clip of Guan Eng (photo) saying on Jan 12 that "not a single cent" was paid for the undersea tunnel was shown at the press conference. Copies of his remarks on his Facebook page were also distributed to the press.

The chief minister had said that only RM208 million was paid (via a land swap of two plots of land) for EIA reports on the three major highway, which is related to the undersea tunnel, linking the island on Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam on the mainland.

Teng also queried why there was a need to appoint a company and pay RM11.2 million just to review and certify claims made by the contractor.

"This is part and parcel of the total cost of the whole project. It is not a separate thing.

"At the end of the day, when you do the accounting, when you close your account, this would all be taken into account," Teng said.

He further questioned why 50 acres of land, which were part of land swapped to pay for the EIA report, as stated by Guan Eng, was sold by the contractor (Zenith) to its subsidiary.

"Why was it allowed to be sold when work for the project has not started yet?" Teng asked.

Why did gov't pay for report?

He then asked why the state government paid for the EIA report when it was stated in the Public Accounts Committee that the contractor would pay for it.

Teng further queried why the consultant HSSI was paid when Guan Eng had said that the feasibility study for the tunnel was only 92 percent completed.

"The Penang government is not telling the truth. Along the way, is there someone lying? Is the state government lying? We want to know, what is paid, how was it paid and who paid for what," he stressed.

The RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and three major highway projects are currently the subject of a major probe by MACC, where two high-ranking bosses of private companies linked to the project have been remanded for 11 days to assist in the investigations.

Asked to point out the element of corruption and illegality of paying for the feasibility study of the tunnel and EIA reports of the three highways, Teng said he was not qualified to do so.

"This is not for me to say, as I am not the authority on it. I am not trained on investigating corruption, but what I am disclosing is said by the state government, and contained in the official reply in the state assembly.

"Whether there is (an) element of corruption or not, the authorities or the competent authority have to investigate," he added.

BN not undermining traffic woes

Asked to respond to claims that BN is undermining the undersea tunnel project and not interested in solving traffic problems, Teng begged to differ.

He said that questioning the way payments are made or tenders are awarded does not mean BN is challenging the state government's seriousness in resolving the traffic congestion.

He added that traffic congestion can be solved in many ways and that the state had offered a proposal.

"Questioning does not mean not supporting the project, this is not the right thing to say in a democratic country. What more, DAP says it is upholding the principles of democracy, that means, check and balance is very important."

"We can also ask them why they made a hue and cry and questioned the PORR (Penang Outer Ring Road project during BN's rule prior to 2008). Did we ever say they are not supportive? They should have supported instead of putting a motion in the state assembly to defer the PORR. That is truly not supporting," Teng argued.

He said the BN assemblypersons never filed a motion to halt the undersea tunnel project at the state assembly.

"All we are saying is, just be transparent as you claim to be CAT (competent, accountable and transparent)," said Teng.

"Now the C is not visible, the A has run away, and T is very dark. What kind of CAT is this? CAT has died and is buried."- Mkini