GEORGE TOWN: The People’s Alternative Party (PAP), a splinter group of DAP, has demanded that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng be investigated for the proposed RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project.
PAP vice-president Rahmad Isahak said Lim should be investigated for the numerous dubious transactions involved in the controversial project.
“To be fair to those arrested or have had their statements taken by the graft busters for the purpose of investigation, it is only right for the chief minister to take responsibility and be investigated, since the idea of the project came from his administration.
“It is our view that, in the name of public interest, the chief minister, if need be, should also be arrested to have his statement taken so as to ward off all the negative perception towards his administration,” he told the New Straits Times.
Rahmad said, as far as the tunnel project was concerned, there was “drama” in the awarding of the project, involving the terms of the agreement, which raised numerous questions among the people.
“It involves state land used to pay the initial cost of the project to the company awarded. There are also differing statements from the chief minister and state Works Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng as to the cost of the project’s feasibility studies.
“Ultimately, the people will have to bear the burden and may be the victims of possible lies and deceit of the project, which is not based on the demand of the majority of the people,” he added.
Much controversy has surrounded the tunnel project and its three paired roads, in recent months, especially on the high cost of the RM305 million feasibility studies as well as the 21-month delay in completing it.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is currently investigating the case with a series or raids conducted and key individuals questioned.
Following one such raid earlier last week, two Datuks were remanded at the Putrajaya and George Town magistrates courts on Tuesday. Today, both had their remand order extended.
Lim had cried “political witch hunt” following the latest investigation by the MACC.