Penang undersea tunnel developer Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd senior executive director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli is confident that former chief minister Lim Guan Eng would not "interfere" in the project, now that the latter is in Putrajaya.
Lim had expressed his preference for a third bridge after the tunnel project received an avalanche of brickbats from NGOs and BN politicians, but Zarul said the new finance minister "has bigger issues to settle" in the federal government.
Zarul said whether the RM6.3 million tunnel project proceeds or not depends very much on the current Penang leadership, led by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who took office after the May 9 general election.
"It all depends on the stewardship of our current chief minister," said Zarul in an interview with Malaysiakini.
"We will provide him with all the feasibility reports. We will him give all the options so he can decide whether he wants the undersea tunnel, bridge, or other options, for the best (interest) of Penangites," Zarul added.
Asked about his preference for a tunnel or bridge, Zarul said: "Either way I am okay. Saya turut perintah (I follow orders). Whatever the state government wants, I will comply."
The 7.2km tunnel project to link the island from Gurney Drive to Butterworth on the mainland includes the building of three paired highways: Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (which leads to the first and second Penang bridges); Northern Coast Paired Road connecting Gurney Drive to Tanjung Tokong and Teluk Bahang; and the Gurney Drive-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass.
Early this year, the project came under a major probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Several high-ranking officials linked to the tunnel, including Zarul, were remanded for 11 days to assist in the probe.
Zarul claimed that he had been pressured to pay RM22 million – RM19 million to a businessperson and RM3 million to a politician – to halt the probe.
However, he said, does not view this as a bribe as he claimed that certain quarters representing the previous BN government "put a gun to his head" to settle the amount or threatened to get him into trouble.
51 issues raised by state government
While Zenith is fully committed to the project, it has to address 51 issues raised by the state government to ensure proper development of the three paired roads, said Zarul.
"It's a lengthy process, which includes how are we going to take care of (the welfare of) monkeys and trees while we develop the highways," he added.
"Therefore, the project to build the roads, beginning with the Air Itam Highway, may only begin three to six months down the road," he said.
Besides the 51 issues Zenith has to address, Zarul said the state government needs to resolve the problem of land acquisition involving 10 federal and private plots before the project can commence, although the three paired roads have obtained the Detailed Environment Impact Assessment (DEIA) approval.
"As for the tunnel, the commencement of work would take some time, as Zenith would have to complete its feasibility study and detailed design study first, before submitting the reports for DEIA approvals," Zarul said.
The tunnel work is expected to commence only in 2023, after the three highways are completed.
Malaysiakini met Zarul at Zenith's Hari Raya open house in Penang, which was attended by Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri Abdul Rahman Abbas and state government officials.
Zarul expressed gratitude that officials from his biggest contractor, China Railway Construction, came in full force to attend the event.
Asked about the federal government's move to review all China-related projects and contracts, Zarul said it would not affect his firm.
"Those which are (being) reviewed involve funding. In my case, there is no funding. I engage them, I pay them.
"There is no issue. No performance, I terminate them. They are just like any contractor, I have the (final) say.
"From Day One, I have never needed any funds to run the project. I did not want to be beholden to any institution," Zarul said.
On criticisms of the tunnel by former BN deputy minister and MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong and BN strategic communications deputy director Eric See-To, who bombarded Lim and Zenith with daily criticisms of the tunnel, Zarul said they are "politically motivated individuals".
"The rakyat are not stupid. They have voted (the way they did) because they know what is right and wrong. They (Wee and See-To) can bluff whatever they want but at the end of the day, the rakyat know," Zarul said. - Mkini
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