According to law firm Messrs Shafee & Co, Penang MCA secretary Yeoh Chin Kah made comments about the Air Itam-Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass road project during four press conferences and in six Facebook posts. (Facebook pic)GEORGE TOWN: Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC), the contractor of the ongoing Air Itam-Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass road project, has demanded that Penang MCA secretary Yeoh Chin Kah retract his statements on the project or face a defamation suit.According to a statement by CZC’s lawyers, Messrs Shafee & Co, Yeoh made comments about the project during four press conferences and in six Facebook posts between July 2 and July 24.The law firm confirmed that a letter of demand was sent to Yeoh on Sunday, and that he had been asked to remove the social media posts and publish a full and unconditional retraction within seven days.The letter also asked Yeoh to provide a written undertaking not to repeat the statements, to propose compensation, and to pay CZC’s legal costs.Should he fail to comply, CZC will commence defamation proceedings against him without further reference to him, Messrs Shafee & Co said.Yeoh had alleged the fabrication of the project's progress data, the misappropriation or advance drawing of public funds, and conduct warranting investigation for corruption."CZC’s position is that these allegations are false and gravely defamatory," the law firm said.It said the true position appeared in the official record of the state government, which confirmed that the physical progress of the works stood at 91.8% as of June 15."The sum certified for payment to CZC was RM668,411,100, being only 78.54% of the original contract price, as at Feb 3, with a balance of RM240,754,120 remaining due and outstanding to CZC."The design revisions, under which the tunnels reverted to the open-cut method and the U-turn was relocated, were approved by the relevant authorities and resulted in no increase or reduction of the contract value," Messrs Shafee & Co said.It also said that all additional costs occasioned by the revisions were borne by CZC and not by public funds."The position is therefore the reverse of what has been alleged. CZC has carried out works exceeding the value of the payments certified and made to it.
It has been paid less than the value of the works it has performed, not more."The law firm also said Yeoh made the remark…
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