‘Penang only paid RM11.2m for three major highway projects’

 

GEORGE TOWN (March 26): Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told the High Court here yesterday that the Penang government paid RM11.2 million to HSSI Sdn Bhd for its role as an independent inspection engineer for the state’s three major highway projects.

Guan Eng said the payment was made for the feasibility study and detailed designs for the three main highways — the North Coast paired road from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang, the Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass and the Gurney Drive-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass.

“Until today, the state government has not made any payment for the undersea tunnel; instead, it only paid RM11.2 million to HSSI for the three main highway projects,” he said when testifying in his suit against former Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow for allegedly issuing defamatory statements against him.

Guan Eng said the RM11.2 million would be recovered from the contractor as “reimbursement”. “The payment was only for the three major highways as there’s no urgency to complete the undersea tunnel project,” he said.

The first day of the hearing was held before Judge Datuk Rosilah Yop, with Guan Eng represented by lawyer Simon Murali and Teng by Kek Boon Wei.

Formerly Penang chief minister, Guan Eng also denied provoking Teng over the implementation of the undersea tunnel and three major highway projects. Kek had asked Guan Eng why he, as the chief minister at that time, did not explain the issue but instead filed a suit. To this, Guan Eng said he had done both.

The hearing will resume on May 6 as Guan Eng is unable to attend court due to the ongoing Parliament sitting.