Penang Pakatan Harapan leaders have turned the tables on MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong for his apparent silence over the implication of an Umno politician in the state’s RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy questioned the silence of BN leaders after Baling MP Abdul Azeez Rahim was alleged to have been paid RM3 million for "consultancy" work on the project, the subject of a massive MACC probe.

"Why is Wee not responding with the same kind of fervour and energy that he did when he queried the Penang government over the undersea tunnel project?

"Wee churned out statement after statement over the issue, and so did Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow, who held several press conferences to attack the state government and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over the project,” he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

"Where are all your tails now? Hiding between your legs? Is it because this matter involves Umno?"

On Monday, Malaysiakini reported that the project contractor, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, had issued demand letters to Azeez and an unnamed businessperson for failing to honour a consultancy agreement signed in July 2017.

The duo were allegedly paid RM3 million and RM19 million respectively to deal with relevant authorities to secure Zenith's interests in the project.

Azeez has strongly denied receiving the money or knowing Zenith, and vowed to sue the company over the allegation.

The businessperson, meanwhile, became the fifth individual detained by MACC in relation to the project, and had assets worth over RM7.5 million seized yesterday.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki said earlier this week that as many as 127 individuals have been questioned in the commission's probe so far.

‘Quiz Azeez’

On a related note, Penang exco Afif Bahardin challenged several MCA and Gerakan leaders to urge MACC to quiz Azeez over the allegations.

In particular, Afif targeted Wee, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai, and BN strategic communications deputy director Eric See-To, who have been vocal in attacking the Penang government over alleged improprieties in the project.

Afif told Malaysiakini yesterday that since a demand letter was sent Azeez, the MACC cannot avoid hauling up the BN politician for questioning.

"Since the letter of demand was issued to the politician and businessperson, this shows corruption, if any, involves top Umno leadership. A letter of demand is a serious, legally binding document, MACC cannot ignore it.

"Silence means you are simply cowards and not truthful. Are they protecting corruptors through MACC?" he asked.

Afif also warned BN leaders to “come clean,” or risk a group of Harapan leaders confronting Azeez in next week’s Parliament sitting.