GEORGE TOWN, Jan 10 — A deputy company chairman with the title of ‘Datuk’ has been remanded for six days to assist in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigations into the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project here.

The senior executive of a property development company in Penang was brought to the magistrate’s court at 11.40am.

Deputy Registrar Muhammad Azam Md Eusoff allowed the remand order today which is until January 15.

The ‘Datuk’, handcuffed and wearing the orange MACC lock-up clothes, was arrested late last night following raids conducted by the MACC.

Another company director, also a "Datuk”, was remanded for six days until January 15 in Putrajaya today to assist in the same investigations.

Both men are linked to Penang’s massive undersea tunnel project.

They are believed to be investigated under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 for soliciting bribes.

Yesterday, MACC raided seven offices in Penang including several government agencies, a developer and a construction company.

Documents were seized from these offices during the raids.

MACC is conducting investigations into the state infrastructure project based on new evidence submitted to the anti-graft agency recently.

Last Saturday, Parti Cinta Malaysia lodged a second report with alleged new evidence on the undersea tunnel project to MACC in Putrajaya.

The controversial 7.2km undersea tunnel, which was awarded to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, was proposed to connect Gurney Drive on the island to Bagan Ajam in Butterworth as part of the state’s Penang Transport Master Plan to ease traffic congestion in the state.

The feasibility studies for the tunnel was delayed for almost two years and last October, Consortium Zenith claimed there was no hurry to complete the studies as the project is only expected to start in 2023.