Senior Superintendent Zulhilmi Ramli, the 38th prosecution witness and a MACC Investigation Division officer, denied today that the probe into former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was biased or designed to implicate him in a RM6.34 billion Penang undersea tunnel and major roads project corruption case [1, 2, 3, 4].
Lim faces multiple charges connected to the project spanning from January 2011 to August 2017. He is accused of using his position as Chief Minister to obtain RM3.3 million in gratification and soliciting 10% of profits to help a company owned by former Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli secure a contract [2, 3, 4]. The former CM also faces allegations of causing the disposal of two plots of Penang government land worth RM208.8 million to a developer linked to the undersea tunnel project [1, 2, 3, 4].
Zulhilmi clarified the project was still at an early stage and the feasibility study and detailed design (FSDD) document had only recently been prepared by Consortium Zenith Beijing Urban Construction Group (CZBUCG). He testified that the FSDD had not yet been submitted to the Penang state government, and he was unsure if CZBUCG had been paid since no claims were filed yet [2, 3, 4].
During cross-examination on August 3, Zulhilmi agreed that only a portion, not the entire Lot 713, was transferred to CZBUCG in exchange for the FSDD, revising his initial statement that the whole lot had been transferred. He stood by this correction based on statements from Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli [1]. The cost of the full FSDD for the three roads involved in the project was RM305 million, while the two contested land plots were valued at RM208 million [1].
Zulhilmi rejected defence claims that investigators relied solely on Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli without proper verification or that they failed to probe the initial design preparation thoroughly [2, 3, 4].
The case remains before the Sessions Court as cross-examination continues, focusing on aspects such as land transfers, project costs, and evidence handling [1].
