Penang: A key witness in former chief minister Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial testified at the Sessions Court today that he spoke only the truth regarding the alleged bribery in the major roads and undersea tunnel project in Penang. Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, 66, former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB), stated that the corruption did occur, supported by substantial evidence and documents presented by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during investigations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zarul Ahmad expressed that he was compelled to tell the truth, despite his personal wish for Lim Guan Eng to win the case due to a debt of gratitude he felt towards him. However, upon reviewing the evidence, he could not deny the occurrence of the offence. This statement was made during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin in the RM6.3 billion corruption case involving Lim Guan Eng.
Wan Shaharuddin questioned Zarul Ahmad about issuing a press statement with untrue contents regarding the project. Zarul Ahmad admitted to doing so to protect his project, avoid tensions with Lim Guan Eng, and safeguard his interests. He acknowledged that the statement falsely claimed the project was obtained transparently and without criminal wrongdoing.
The amended first charge accuses Lim, 64, of abusing his position as the then chief minister of Penang to receive a bribe of RM3.3 million to assist a company owned by Zarul Ahmad in securing the Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project in Penang, valued at RM6,341,383,702. The offence allegedly took place between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Chief Minister's Office in Penang.
Under the amended second charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10 percent bribe out of the project's future profits from Zarul Ahmad to assist his company in securing the same project. This solicitation allegedly occurred near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, between 12.30 am and 2.00 am in March 2011.
Additionally, Lim faces two charges of disposing of state-owned land lots in Penang, valued at RM208.8 million, to a developer linked to the undersea tunnel project. These offences were allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Komtar, on February 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017. The trial before Judge Azura Alwi is scheduled to resume on June 24.