MACC, SEB deny graft probe on Murum Dam
Published: Jul 31, 2014 5:40 AM | Updated: Jul 31, 2014 9:31 AM
Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) has denied that one of its officers was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in relation to the RM4 billion Murum Dam project.
"SEB denies the allegation and there is no investigation by the MACC on the late Frankie Chin," an SEB spokesperson told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) has denied that one of its officers was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in relation to the RM4 billion Murum Dam project.
"SEB denies the allegation and there is no investigation by the MACC on the late Frankie Chin," an SEB spokesperson told Malaysiakini when contacted.
This was in response to a report by whistleblower site Sarawak Report that said Chin, the SEB technical manager, was being investigated for alleged kickbacks from a contractor in the Murum Dam project.
Sarawak Report claimed MACC had questioned Chin before his sudden death on June 21, due to illness.
The report had also suggested that Chin was under pressure following the probe.
'MACC did not question Chin'
Meanwhile, MACC in a statement this evening confirmed it did not question Chin, nor did it open an investigation against him.
"His death is also not connected with MACC as he was never probed and had never been called to any MACC office for statement.
"The report linking his death to MACC is unfair as it gives a negative impact to MACC as an anti-graft agency that is free, transparent and professional," MACC investigations division director Mohd Jamidan Abdullah said.
The report said Chin was in charge of addressing serious defects found in the turbines of the Murum Dam.
"According to documents in our possession, Frankie Chin was the key manager at SEB who negotiated on this crisis with the Three Gorges Dam Company and with the company Harbin, which was apparently responsible for manufacturing the turbines," Sarawak Dam said.
Report says turbines 'not suitable'
Three Gorges Development (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, which is the Malaysian subsidiary of China-based Three Gorges Development Company, was tasked with the construction of the dam.
Sarawak Report had earlier revealed that an assessment by independent consultant, Norconsult, found the turbines installed at Murum Dam were "not suitable for installation and operation".
However, SEB chief executive officer Torstein Dale Sjotveit said the problem could be rectified and posed no danger to workers or to the project.
"SEB denies the allegation and there is no investigation by the MACC on the late Frankie Chin," an SEB spokesperson told Malaysiakini when contacted.
This was in response to a report by whistleblower site Sarawak Report that said Chin, the SEB technical manager, was being investigated for alleged kickbacks from a contractor in the Murum Dam project.Sarawak Report claimed MACC had questioned Chin before his sudden death on June 21, due to illness.
The report had also suggested that Chin was under pressure following the probe.
'MACC did not question Chin'
Meanwhile, MACC in a statement this evening confirmed it did not question Chin, nor did it open an investigation against him.
"His death is also not connected with MACC as he was never probed and had never been called to any MACC office for statement.
"The report linking his death to MACC is unfair as it gives a negative impact to MACC as an anti-graft agency that is free, transparent and professional," MACC investigations division director Mohd Jamidan Abdullah said.
The report said Chin was in charge of addressing serious defects found in the turbines of the Murum Dam.
"According to documents in our possession, Frankie Chin was the key manager at SEB who negotiated on this crisis with the Three Gorges Dam Company and with the company Harbin, which was apparently responsible for manufacturing the turbines," Sarawak Dam said.
Report says turbines 'not suitable'
Three Gorges Development (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, which is the Malaysian subsidiary of China-based Three Gorges Development Company, was tasked with the construction of the dam.
Sarawak Report had earlier revealed that an assessment by independent consultant, Norconsult, found the turbines installed at Murum Dam were "not suitable for installation and operation".
However, SEB chief executive officer Torstein Dale Sjotveit said the problem could be rectified and posed no danger to workers or to the project.
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