Aliran: Clarify Online Allegations About Penang Tunnel-Highways Project

The RM6.3 billion tunnel mega-project was widely believed to involve kickbacks promised to politicians, consultants and shareholders from Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (Zenith), parent to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) awarded the project. Source (pic): FMT

Aliran

Aliran makes reference to allegations by an online website report about the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) recent investigation into the Penang-tunnel-and-three-highways project (or Penang Undersea Tunnel project).

This online website has been reproducing what it claims to be excerpts of the MACC investigation papers that were apparently leaked to it. These papers contain disturbing allegations about the project, including the circumstances surrounding the request for proposals.

Aliran, however, is uncertain about the authenticity of the source of information and the lack of corroboration of these allegations. We hope the MACC can clarify the status of its investigations into the project as well as whether these allegations have any basis.

We also hope the Penang state government will be able to respond to these allegations in the interest of transparency and accountability.

It is important to clear the air before any work on the tunnel and/or highways, in themselves controversial on different levels, can proceed.

Aliran executive committee
27 February 2019