Former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to Begin Impeachment Proceedings in Penang Undersea Tunnel Corruption Trial, Malaysia

Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng’s defence team has received a crucial witness statement from the prosecution in the ongoing corruption trial related to the Penang undersea tunnel project. The statement, provided by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd’s director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, was received for another case in Shah Alam. The defence team will use the statement to impeach Zarul Ahmad during the proceedings, which are set to begin on February 26. The impeachment proceedings were allowed by Judge Azura Alwi on January 9, with a list of 31 pages from Zarul Ahmad’s statement being presented in court. This statement was produced during a separate trial in 2019, where businessman G. Gnanaraja was charged with cheating Zarul Ahmad of RM19 million. Zarul Ahmad had previously claimed that RM2 million was given to Lim as a cash cheque for the undersea tunnel project, while another RM2 million in cash was given to Gnanaraja to be delivered to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Lim’s then-lead counsel, Gobind Singh Deo, disputed this claim and stated that Zarul Ahmad had previously stated that the RM2 million was meant solely for Najib. The corruption trial involves Lim facing charges of using his position to solicit RM3.3 million in bribes and causing the disposal of land belonging to the Penang government. The trial will continue to unfold as the defence team proceeds with the impeachment proceedings.