Dismissing the warning issued to him by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng reiterated his statement that the graft-buster practises "double standards".
Lim cited the example of MACC not questioning Umno Baling MP Azeez Rahim although Azeez was sent a letter of demand by the Penang undersea tunnel contractor Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd on Feb 24.
Zenith claimed Azeez (photo) and a businessperson were paid RM3 million and RM19 million respectively, but they did not complete their consultancy work as per an agreement signed by the parties in July 2017.
"Why did MACC only haul up the businessperson but not the Umno politician?" Lim asked at a press conference in Penang today.
Lim cited another case where reports about Penang government leaders allegedly receiving billions from the undersea tunnel project were splashed on the front pages of pro-federal government newspapers.
"These reports were merely malicious lies but the MACC has not taken any action yet on those who spread these slanders," Lim said.
"More so when it was reported that the source of the reports came from the MACC itself, which leaked the information.
"Now we find out that the ones receiving money have links to BN, especially Umno, so why no action?
"MACC has acted mischievously and unfairly towards the Penang government, and whether they have truly done so, we shall let the people decide," he added.
Lim was referring to the warning MACC chief commissioner Dzulkefly Ahmad issued to him and to Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali, that they be careful in issuing statements on the commission's investigations into issues in their respective states, which Dzulkefly said could tantamount to defamation.
In Penang, Lim has been pressuring the MACC to arrest Azeez, who has been accused of receiving the RM3 million from Zenith.
Azeez confirmed receiving the letter of demand from Zenith on Tuesday but denied its content and lodged a police reporttoday, claiming someone had used his name to benefit millions of ringgit from the tunnel project.
On the same day, a 37-year old businessperson with a "Datuk Seri" title had been detained by MACC in Putrajaya.
Lim maintained that the 7.2km undersea tunnel is a "clean" project as it was awarded to Zenith in 2013 via an open tender.
Construction of the RM6.3 billion project, which involves three highways and an undersea tunnel linking the island to Butterworth on the mainland, is supposed to begin in 2023 and the works are to be completed in 2027.
Lim and his state executive councillors have been shocked by the revelation that Zenith allegedly paid millions to a politician and a businessperson for consultancy work, saying they would await clarification from the firm itself. -Mkini
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