Latest news with #ZarulAhmad
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Key witness in Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial says he only spoke the truth
KUALA LUMPUR: 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 the substantial evidence and documents presented by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during investigations. 'I was compelled to tell the truth. If I were to follow my heart, I would wish for YB Lim Guan Eng to win in this case, as I owe him a debt of gratitude. 'However, upon reviewing the evidence and documents, I could not deny that the offence indeed took place,' said the 23rd prosecution witness. He made this statement 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: You informed the court that you were instructed to issue a press statement regarding the project, and that the contents of that statement were untrue, yet you proceeded to issue it. Is that correct? Zarul Ahmad: I did so to protect my project, to avoid escalating tensions with the then Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, and to safeguard his interests. Zarul Ahmad acknowledged that in the statement, he claimed the project was obtained transparently and without any criminal wrongdoing, which he admitted was false. Wan Shaharuddin: So you deliberately misled the people of Penang to protect Lim Guan Eng's image despite knowing your statement was untruthful? Zarul Ahmad: I am indebted to him and followed his instructions, as he was serving as the Finance Minister at the time. According to the amended first charge, Lim, 64, is accused, in his capacity as the then chief minister of Penang, of abusing his position 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 for assisting his company in securing the same project. The solicitation allegedly took place 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 a couple of state-owned lots of land 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 Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017. The trial before Judge Azura Alwi is scheduled to resume on June 24.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Key witness in Lim Guan Eng trial says he told the truth
KUALA LUMPUR: 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 the substantial evidence and documents presented by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during investigations. 'I was compelled to tell the truth. If I were to follow my heart, I would wish for YB Lim Guan Eng to win in this case, as I owe him a debt of gratitude. 'However, upon reviewing the evidence and documents, I could not deny that the offence indeed took place,' said the 23rd prosecution witness. He made this statement 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: You informed the court that you were instructed to issue a press statement regarding the project, and that the contents of that statement were untrue, yet you proceeded to issue it. Is that correct? Zarul Ahmad: I did so to protect my project, to avoid escalating tensions with the then Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, and to safeguard his interests. Zarul Ahmad acknowledged that in the statement, he claimed the project was obtained transparently and without any criminal wrongdoing, which he admitted was false. Wan Shaharuddin: So you deliberately misled the people of Penang to protect Lim Guan Eng's image despite knowing your statement was untruthful? Zarul Ahmad: I am indebted to him and followed his instructions, as he was serving as the Finance Minister at the time. According to the amended first charge, Lim, 64, is accused, in his capacity as the then chief minister of Penang, of abusing his position 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 for assisting his company in securing the same project. The solicitation allegedly took place 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 a couple of state-owned lots of land 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 Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017. The trial before Judge Azura Alwi is scheduled to resume on June 24.
The Star
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Open tender process was ‘staged', says prosecution witness
KUALA LUMPUR: A key prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the Penang undersea tunnel project involving former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng said the purported open tender process was 'staged' for his company to secure the project, the Sessions Court heard. Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) former director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli said the project was not awarded through an open tender. He was being re-examined by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat about the nature of the meetings between Chinese construction firm Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) – a special purpose vehicle for the project – and the Penang state government. 'The project's memorandum of understanding (MOU) did not state that the project would be done through an open tender. That is the reality. 'The MOU did not mention an open tender at all; the meetings we attended with the state government showed that, although it was an open tender, it was staged for us to secure the project. 'Since the RFP (request for proposal) was prepared together with us, it gave us a head start. When the RFP was called to include other bidders, they were given a short time to prepare their submission,' he said. Zarul Ahmad noted that his company had a 'head start' since 2011. 'We were also one of the parties involved in the RFP preparation stage, so there was indeed insider information.' Zarul Ahmad also confirmed that apart from three official meetings with the state government, there were informal meetings with state officials to gather information for the RFP. Zarul Ahmad also confirmed that Lim informed him in early May 2011 about the change of the project's bidding to an open tender. Despite this, he said BUCG was still invited to attend meetings, which took place both before and after the announcement of the open tender by Lim. Zarul Ahmad also revealed that a RM19mil payment made to businessman G. Gnanaraja was for the sole purpose of stopping an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and had nothing to do with an ongoing investigation by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). Last Nov 14, Zarul Ahmad testified that LHDN officers raided his home and office in 2017 at the height of public debate over the project. He also said that a large amount of cash in a safe he kept was untouched despite the LHDN and MACC raids. 'I received RM79mil from Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng for a land-swap deal for Lot 702 between 2013 and 2016. I cashed out some of the money and kept it in my office safe for emergencies, as well as the general election, as I would give contributions to those I supported. But the officers did not touch it during the raids,' he said. Lot 702 was part of a land swap agreement related to the feasibility and detailed design studies for the Penang undersea tunnel project. Ewe, who was Ewein Bhd founder and executive chairman, was due to be called as the 15th prosecution witness, but was found dead after a fall from a condominium on Oct 5, 2021, in Pulau Tikus, Penang. Lim, 64, is facing an amended charge of using his position as then Penang chief minister to solicit RM3.3mil in bribes as an inducement to assist Zarul Ahmad in securing the undersea tunnel project worth RM6.34bil. Lim allegedly committed the offence at the Penang Chief Minister's Office, Level 28, Komtar, George Town, between January 2011 and August 2017. In the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting a 10% profit from the company as gratification to secure the project. The offence was allegedly committed near the Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here, in March 2011. Lim, who is Bagan MP, faces two further charges of causing two plots of land worth RM208.8mil, belonging to the Penang government, to be disposed of to two companies linked to the project. The trial before Judge Azura Alwi continues on May 27.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Penang tunnel MoU didn't require open tender process
KUALA LUMPUR: A former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) told the Sessions Court here today that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) related to the mega project involving the construction of main roads and an undersea tunnel in Penang did not state that the project would be carried out via open tender. Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, 66, however, said that in early May 2011, he was informed by Lim Guan Eng that the project would be implemented through open tender. 'Indeed, the MoU did not mention open tender, but three meetings we attended with the state government indicated that the open tender was staged for us to win the project, as the request for proposal (RFP) documents were prepared with us, giving us an advantage. 'When the RFP was opened to other bidders, they were only given a short time to prepare their submissions,' he said during re-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Jumaat in the corruption trial of the former Penang chief minister, who is facing four charges related to the project. The 27th prosecution witness said that based on the state government's visit to Consortium Zenith Beijing Urban Construction Group Sdn Bhd (CZBUCG) in China, the three meetings, and the signing of the MoU, it showed that the project was awarded to his company via direct negotiation. He said that as early as 2011, they were already informed about the project and were among the parties involved in preparing the RFP, in addition to having insider information. 'The trip to China was also made by Penang state executive councillors and it was only to CZBUCG, not to any other Chinese company that participated in the tender. So, I say the appointment of CZBUCG for the project was orchestrated,' he said. Zarul Ahmad also revealed that he received RM79 million from the sale of land known as 'Lot 702', part of which he cashed out and stored in a safe in his office. 'I kept part of the money in the safe to be used in case of emergencies, and considering that the general election was approaching. I intended to make contributions to those I supported,' he said. When asked by Mahadi whether there was still money in the safe when officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) came to the office, Zarul Ahmad replied, 'Yes, they came not to conduct a search, but only to collect documents.' He also said that Lim had instructed him to hold a press conference stating that his company was not involved in corruption related to the project, in order to clear the name of the former Penang chief minister and the company. 'I was instructed by YB Lim Guan Eng to hold a press conference to clear the name of the company, his name, and my name, as they were being attacked by the previous government before Pakatan Harapan, so I followed the order. 'MACC never threatened me; since I was one of the last individuals called to give a statement, I had no choice but to reveal the truth after the agency presented me with solid investigation findings,' he said. According to the first amended charge, Lim, 64, is accused, in his capacity as Penang chief minister at the time, of using his position to solicit a RM3.3 million bribe by assisting Zarul Ahmad's company to be appointed for the RM6.3 billion Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister's Office. In the second amended charge, Lim is alleged to have requested a bribe of 10 per cent of the profits from Zarul Ahmad as a reward for helping his company secure the same project, near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, here, between 12.30 am and 2 am in March 2011. He also faces two charges of causing the disposal of two pieces of state land in Penang worth RM208.8 million to a developer related to the undersea tunnel project, allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office in Komtar on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017. The trial before Judge Azura Alwi resumes on May 27.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
MoU did not specify Penang road, tunnel project to be done via open tender
KUALA LUMPUR: A former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB) told the Sessions Court here today that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) related to the mega project involving the construction of main roads and an undersea tunnel in Penang did not state that the project would be carried out via open tender. Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, 66, however, said that in early May 2011, he was informed by Lim Guan Eng that the project would be implemented through open tender. 'Indeed, the MoU did not mention open tender, but three meetings we attended with the state government indicated that the open tender was staged for us to win the project, as the request for proposal (RFP) documents were prepared with us, giving us an advantage. 'When the RFP was opened to other bidders, they were only given a short time to prepare their submissions,' he said during re-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Jumaat in the corruption trial of the former Penang chief minister, who is facing four charges related to the project. The 27th prosecution witness said that based on the state government's visit to Consortium Zenith Beijing Urban Construction Group Sdn Bhd (CZBUCG) in China, the three meetings, and the signing of the MoU, it showed that the project was awarded to his company via direct negotiation. He said that as early as 2011, they were already informed about the project and were among the parties involved in preparing the RFP, in addition to having insider information. 'The trip to China was also made by Penang state executive councillors and it was only to CZBUCG, not to any other Chinese company that participated in the tender. So, I say the appointment of CZBUCG for the project was orchestrated,' he said. Zarul Ahmad also revealed that he received RM79 million from the sale of land known as 'Lot 702', part of which he cashed out and stored in a safe in his office. 'I kept part of the money in the safe to be used in case of emergencies, and considering that the general election was approaching. I intended to make contributions to those I supported,' he said. When asked by Mahadi whether there was still money in the safe when officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) came to the office, Zarul Ahmad replied, 'Yes, they came not to conduct a search, but only to collect documents.' He also said that Lim had instructed him to hold a press conference stating that his company was not involved in corruption related to the project, in order to clear the name of the former Penang chief minister and the company. 'I was instructed by YB Lim Guan Eng to hold a press conference to clear the name of the company, his name, and my name, as they were being attacked by the previous government before Pakatan Harapan, so I followed the order. 'MACC never threatened me; since I was one of the last individuals called to give a statement, I had no choice but to reveal the truth after the agency presented me with solid investigation findings,' he said. According to the first amended charge, Lim, 64, is accused, in his capacity as Penang chief minister at the time, of using his position to solicit a RM3.3 million bribe by assisting Zarul Ahmad's company to be appointed for the RM6.3 billion Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister's Office. In the second amended charge, Lim is alleged to have requested a bribe of 10 per cent of the profits from Zarul Ahmad as a reward for helping his company secure the same project, near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, here, between 12.30 am and 2 am in March 2011. He also faces two charges of causing the disposal of two pieces of state land in Penang worth RM208.8 million to a developer related to the undersea tunnel project, allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office in Komtar on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017. The trial before Judge Azura Alwi resumes on May 27.
