‘Datuk Seri’ in Penang undersea tunnel investigation freed

PETALING JAYA (Jan 30): The magistrate’s court at Putrajaya has released the chairman of an engineering consultancy who had been remanded for five days since Jan 25 to assist the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in its investigation into a three-highway and undersea tunnel project in Penang, reported Bernama.

Magistrate Khir Niam Zemari ordered the 62-year-old man, who has a “Datuk Seri” title, to be released on bail of RM58,000 with one surety.

He is believed to have been involved in preparing documents for fraudulent claims involving over RM305 million for the Penang government that were allegedly for feasibility studies on the project.

Bernama reported that the engineering consultancy chaired by him was understood to have been involved in large-scale infrastructure projects previously, including the construction of a bridge in Penang, a bus terminal in the federal capital and the upgrading of a state airport.

The man is among four people remanded by the MACC so far, to facilitate investigations into the project under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki reported that the MACC had recorded statements from 76 witnesses so far.