KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officer investigating the Penang undersea tunnel project today denied being negligent in the conduct of his probe into the case against former chief minister Lim Guan Eng.
Zulhilmi Ramli said he launched the probe based on complaints about the project.
He said he was unaware businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli had taken part in the 2012 open tender process through another company, VST Cemerlang Sdn Bhd.
Zarul’s previous company, Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd, also took part in the tender process, obtaining high scores during an evaluation and winning the bid.
The court had previously heard that nine companies had taken part in the open tender process.
The seven others were China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd, Setia Precast Sdn Bhd, ECK Construction Sdn Bhd, Gamuda Bhd, Zambina Wawasan Sdn Bhd, IJM-CRGL Joint Ventures, and WCT-Daewoo Joint Ventures.
“Did you know this was a ‘bid rigging’ method? This tells a lot about his (Zarul’s) credibility,” lawyer Hajjan Omar said when asking why Zulhilmi did not investigate star witness Zarul’s links to VST.
In answer, Zulhilmi repeated that he had no knowledge of the matter, denying also that the connection between Zarul and VST was a crucial point in the investgation against Lim.
Lim is accused of using his position as then chief minister to solicit a 10% share of profits from the undersea tunnel project, as well as obtaining RM3.3 million in bribes from businessman Zarul.
He also faces two charges of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land.
The hearing before judge Azura Alwi continues on July 23.
