KUALA LUMPUR (March 4): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today said it had been probing the Penang undersea tunnel project since 2017.

In a statement today, MACC said it had opened six investigation papers into the matter — one in July 2017 and another five in January 2018.

It said five investigation papers had been completed and referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP).

MACC said three of the papers had been returned to the commission for further investigation while two were being studied by the DPP.

MACC said it was still investigating the remaining one paper.

The confirmation from MACC follows an article by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin on the RM6.3 billion project.

Raja Petra had alleged that several DAP leaders including Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeo had received kickbacks from project contractor Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd.

Following the article, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed accused Raja Petra lying, while the MACC lodged a police report over his blog post a day later.

The proposed 7.2-km long project linking Gurney Drive on the island to Bagan Ajam in Seberang Perai on the mainland is part of a massive RM6.3 billion infrastructure project that includes three paired road projects — North Coastal Road (linking Tanjong Bungah and Teluk Bahang), Ayer Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass and Gurney Drive-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass.