ZARUL Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, the top executive of the firm awarded a mega Penang infrastructure project, is not a reliable witness in  Lim Guan Eng’s corruption case, said DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua.

He said Zarul, the senior executive director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, previously complimented Lim as Penang chief minister and the state government.

“Zarul said in the past that he had to gratify (certain quarters) to bag a government contract but Penang under Pakatan was different as open tenders are practiced, so any company can get a contract as long as the plan is good. He praised Penang for its transparency,” Pua said in a Facebook live session today.

He questioned what prompted Zarul to now say that Lim solicited a 10% bribe for the project.

“Is this person reliable? Why did the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission want him to be a witness in the case? So, this is why we are very confident on proving Lim Guan Eng’s innocence in court.”

Lim pleaded not guilty to a charge of soliciting a 10% bribe from the profits of the RM6.3 billion highway and undersea tunnel projects in Penang.

He was charged at a special corruption court in Kuala Lumpur on Friday before judge Azura Alwi.

Lim was accused of committing the offence in March 2011 near The Gardens Hotel, Mid Valley in Kuala Lumpur, when he was Penang chief minister.

He allegedly solicited the bribe from Zarul, whose company was appointed by Penang to implement the project.

Lim is also set to face other charges on Monday and Tuesday. – August 9, 2020.