KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer in Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial denies he was negligent when investigating the Penang undersea tunnel and paired roads project involving the former chief minister.
During cross-examination on Friday (June 5), MACC investigating officer Zulhilmi Ramli disputed defence claims that he had overlooked aspects involving VST Cemerlang Sdn Bhd in the probe.
VST Cemerlang was among eight companies that qualified for the request-for-proposal stage of the multi-billion ringgit Penang undersea tunnel and paired roads project. The company partnered with China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd in its tender bid.
Lim's lead counsel Haijan Omar suggested that businessman Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli had previously admitted to including VST Cemerlang in the request for proposal (RFP) process because he feared Consortium Zenith Beijing Urban Construction Group (CZBUCG) might not win the project despite assurances he had received.
Zulhilmi said he first learned in court of allegations that Zarul Ahmad had a role in VST Cemerlang's participation in the tender exercise, but rejected suggestions that the matter had been overlooked during the investigation.
Haijan: Is this the first time you learned in court that Datuk Zarul Ahmad had a role in placing VST in the RFP bidding process?
Zulhilmi: Yes.
Haijan: That means you never investigated this aspect. You did not investigate why Zarul Ahmad placed VST in the bidding process.
Zulhilmi: I disagree.
Zulhilmi also maintained that his investigation was conducted based on the complaint lodged in the case.
Haijan also referred to evidence given by Zarul Ahmad and suggested that VST Cemerlang's participation in the tender process was an important aspect that should have been investigated.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin objected, saying the issue had already surfaced during Zarul Ahmad's testimony and should instead be addressed in the defence's submissions.
Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi agreed.
The trial resumes on July 23.
Lim, 65, is charged with using his position as Penang chief minister's to obtain RM3.3mil in gratification linked to the project between January 2011 and August 2017.
He also faces a second charge of using his position to obtain a 10% profit from the project as gratification in March 2011, as well as two charges involving the disposal of Penang government land valued at RM208.8mil to companies linked to the project.
