KUALA LUMPUR: The Penang state government ended up as the “losing party” in the undersea tunnel project, the Sessions Court heard.
Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, former director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, said that despite the state’s losses, his company received full payment in a land swap deal related to the project.
This was, he added, despite the company not delivering the detailed design report for the tunnel.
During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Zarul Ahmad said he did not incur losses in the dealings concerning the undersea tunnel project.
Wan Shaharuddin: Did any side face losses?
Zarul Ahmad: I can say the Penang state government suffered losses. The study on the project was not completed, yet I received two plots of land.
Zarul Ahmad added that to this day, the detailed design of the project is still unfinished.
He was referred to the minutes of several meetings in 2011 and read out parts of the content, which stated the supposed processes and expected challenges.
Zarul Ahmad added that he had no reason to hold any grudges against Lim, as he felt indebted to him and other state officials, who helped him gain profits in the project bidding.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel project consists of four major components: three toll-free roads on the island and a tolled tunnel to ease traffic congestion on the island. The project is worth RM6.3bil.
Zarul Ahmad told the court that his company’s acquisition of the Penang undersea tunnel project was not coincidental, as his company had a clear advantage in the tender process.
Wan Shaharuddin: So who eventually secured the project?
Zarul Ahmad: I did.
Wan Shaharuddin: Considering everything, are these all a coincidence?
Zarul Ahmad: No. I had an advantage in the project tender because I was the only one who attended the three meetings in 2011 with state officials related to the project.
Last month, Zarul Ahmad told the court that the Penang state government proceeded to advance the undersea tunnel project despite encountering significant challenges in the feasibility studies and detailed design.
Meanwhile, Lim’s lead counsel Haijan Omar was told to file a formal application with the court for his client’s passport to travel to China from May 5 to 13.
The prosecution has no objection to the request.
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.
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, 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 14.
