A MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer told the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today that he had alerted his superiors about Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli’s statement alleging payments made to former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Senior Superintendent Ng Heng Jun testified that Zarul Ahmad—then Director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZCSB)—had, during a fraud investigation on 9 December 2019, disclosed that he had given money to both businessman G. Gnanaraja and Lim in connection with the controversial Penang undersea tunnel project.
“Datuk Zarul only told me in general terms about the money given to Lim. I was not involved in the investigation into the money given to Lim because the case was handled by another investigating officer,” said Ng, who is the investigating officer in the RM19 million fraud case involving Gnanaraja.
“I then reported the matter to the MACC superiors, and I was informed that a special investigation would be conducted into the case,” he added.
Ng, the 36th prosecution witness, said this during re-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh in the ongoing corruption trial involving the RM6.3 billion major roads and undersea tunnel project in Penang.
He added he had not prevented Zarul Ahmad, the 23rd prosecution witness, from providing evidence to the MACC regarding the alleged payments to Lim.
“I asked him (Zarul Ahmad) to give evidence regarding the handing over of money to Lim for the case against Lim, because I don't want Datuk Zarul's evidence to be mixed up with the case I am investigating, as the two cases are different,” said Ng.
According to the amended first charge, Lim Guan Eng, 64, is accused—during his tenure as Chief Minister of Penang—of abusing his position to obtain RM3.3 million in bribes to assist Zarul Ahmad’s company in securing the RM6.34 billion tunnel and road project.
The alleged offence occurred between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Chief Minister’s Office in Penang.
Under a second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting 10 per cent of the project’s future profits from Zarul Ahmad in exchange for assisting in securing the contract. This alleged incident took place near The Gardens Hotel, Mid Valley City, between 12.30 am and 2.00 am in March 2011.
Lim also faces two separate charges of disposing of two state-owned parcels of land in Penang, collectively valued at RM208.8 million, to a developer associated with the same infrastructure project. These acts are alleged to have taken place at the Penang Land and Mines Office in Komtar on 17 February 2015 and 22 March 2017.
The trial continues before Judge Azura Alwi on 22 July. - July 10, 2025
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