A COMPANY director told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today that he gave RM2 million each to Najib Razak and former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng in connection with the controversial Penang undersea tunnel project.

Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, 64, of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, said the money for Najib was given in cash, while for Lim, in a cheque, by a businessman G. Gnanaraja at a hotel in Petaling Jaya in 2017.

The prosecution’s 23rd witness said this when asked by lawyer Gobind Singh Deo at the trial of Lim, who is facing four charges of corruption involving the construction of an undersea tunnel and main roads in Penang worth RM6.3 billion.

Zarul said the money was given to Najib to stop the corruption investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission against his company.

Gobind: The RM2 million cash was given to Najib because he was the prime minister at the time and to your mind, he could influence the investigation against your company?

Zarul: Yes.

Gobind: In your witness statement, you said Gnanaraja is close to Najib?

Zarul: Correct.

On the first charge, Lim is alleged to have abused his power as then Penang chief minister to obtain RM3.3 million gratification as an inducement to appoint Zarul’s company to implement the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel and three paired roads project in the state.

He is alleged to have committed the offence between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office.

On the second charge, Lim is accused of asking for 10% of profits from Zarul to help his company secure the project.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur, between 12.30am and 2am in March 2011.

Lim is also facing two other charges for dishonest misappropriation of property by disposing of two plots of land belonging to the Penang government in Bandar Tanjong Pinang worth RM208 million to Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd and Zenith Urban Development Sdn Bhd – companies linked to the tunnel project – on February 17, 2015 and March 22, 2017.

The trial before judge Azura Alwi continues tomorrow. – Bernama, October 23, 2023.