New Straits Times (NST) has reported sources alleging kickbacks had been given to “key politicians” in the Penang tunnel project.

Without naming the sources, NST claimed the information was based on “preliminary findings of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation”.

“There are politicians who received between tens of thousands and several million ringgit for their cooperation.

“We are trying to trace how the wrongdoings were committed and the payments made.

“They may be linked to the two plots of land involved in the land swap deal as payment for the studies, which are of high value,” the English daily reported the sources as saying.

Sources believed that the high amount was given as kickbacks, wrote NST in the story headlined, "Politicians received millions of ringgit".

According to the report, the sources declined to reveal the identities of the politicians, “but said they might have vested interests in the project”.

NST's sister publication Berita Harian and Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia also carried the same reports apparently citing the same sources, variously headlined "Politicians receive kickbacks" and "Politicians have a feast" (Ahli politik makan besar).

Yesterday, PKR lawmaker Sim Tze Tzin rubbished open attacks against the tunnel as “politically motivated” as the 14th general election is just around the corner.