Media camped out at MACC
Politician called in over tunnel project draws reporters
GEORGE TOWN: The state Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah here became the focal point for the press after talk circulated on social media that a bigname politician had been summoned by graft-busters to give a statement over the controversial RM6.3bil Penang undersea tunnel project.
As many as 30 reporters and photographers from various agencies camped outside the MACC building yesterday so as not to miss a glimpse of the politician.
Attempts to reach out to MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki and state MACC director Lim Bee Kean to confirm the news were unsuccessful.
However, sources revealed that the case was being investigated by a special MACC team from Putrajaya and the scope of the investigation was mainly on the Anti-Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla).
It is understood that several bank accounts and assets of some businessmen linked to the mega project had been frozen by the authorities.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow spent more than four hours being interviewed, prompting him to miss his official event at 11am that day.
A day earlier, three state executive councillors also went to the MACC office to have their statements recorded.
They were state Housing, Town, Country Planning and Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo; Women, Family Development and Gender Inclusiveness Committee chairman Chong Eng and Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.
MACC officers also visited the offices of state Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari and Deputy Chief Minister ll Dr P. Ramasamy at Komtar last Friday.
Former Penang Port Commission chairman Jeffrey Chew was previously remanded for four days from July 1-4 for investigations into the case. He has since been released.