Penang exco Lim Hock Seng was quizzed for 12 hours by the MACC over the state’s undersea tunnel project, the subject of a major probe by the graft-busting agency since the beginning of the year.

Lim was present at the MACC office in Penang at 9am, and was only released at about 9pm.

The exco for public works, utilities and transportation was accompanied by lawyer and Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer, and appeared in high spirits despite the lengthy questioning. 

"It is not an arrest, they questioned me as a witness," he told Malaysiakini without providing any further elaboration.

Lim also said the MACC did not tell him if would be called up for questioning again.

Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy (photo) is also scheduled to meet MACC officers tomorrow over the RM6.3 billion tunnel project. 

So far, MACC has quizzed about 70 individuals and nabbed four, including two with "datuk" titles and one with a "datuk seri," to assist their investigation into the project.

The road and tunnel project, awarded via open tender to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd in 2013, has received persistent criticism from BN leaders who allege impropriety in the state government's dealings. 

Prime Minister Najib Razak described the project as "wasteful," despite witnessing the signing of a 2011 memorandum of understanding between the Penang government and Chinese firm Beijing Urban Construction Group.

Earlier today, state exco Chow Kon Yeow indicated that the Penang government would cooperate fully with MACC in their probe.

"We will give our cooperation for MACC to investigate as thoroughly as they want.

"We only hope that the road and tunnel projects can still be implemented after the massive political oppression is used against the state government officers, the consortium, consultants and contractors of this project," he added.