The Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today upheld an objection by the prosecution in the corruption trial of former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, involving an undersea tunnel project. The objection was in response to a question raised by the defense, regarding a WhatsApp conversation between a key witness and businessman G. Gnanaraja, that mentioned former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Judge Azura Alwi ruled that the question be struck from the record, deeming it irrelevant to the case. She emphasized that the charges against Lim fall under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and pertain solely to bribery allegations. “Why is the issue of ‘trial by media’ being raised when the focus should be on proving the acceptance of bribes? The comparison to what the witness said about unrelated matters is irrelevant,” she explained.
The case revolves around accusations that Lim received bribes from the director of Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, in connection with a highway and undersea tunnel project in Penang. During the proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin objected to the defense's line of questioning. He argued that the defense's inquiry into Zarul Ahmad’s relationship with Gnanaraja, as indicated by a WhatsApp conversation between the two, had no bearing on the charges against Lim.
Wan Shaharuddin noted that the conversation referenced former Prime Minister Najib and had nothing to do with the corruption case at hand. He stated, “There is no need for an elaborate discussion of the WhatsApp exchange as it is unrelated to the charges facing Lim.”
Zarul Ahmad, the 23rd prosecution witness, reportedly became agitated at the question, viewing it as a personal attack rather than a relevant issue. The defense, however, insisted that the question was essential to demonstrate the close relationship between Gnanaraja and Najib. Lim’s lawyer, RSN Rayer, defended his line of questioning by asserting that it was justified given previous statements made by the prosecution, which had led to a "trial by media" atmosphere.
Rayer argued that just as the prosecution had implied that Zarul Ahmad had bribed Lim, the defense had the right to explore personal connections that might shed light on the case. Nonetheless, Wan Shaharuddin countered that the witness's testimony about Lim allegedly receiving 10 percent of a bribe directly relates to the charges and should not be conflated with unrelated issues.
Lim faces multiple corruption charges related to the undersea tunnel project. In the first amended charge, Lim, 63, is accused of using his position as Penang’s chief minister to solicit RM3.3 million in bribes from Zarul Ahmad. The alleged bribes were intended to secure a lucrative construction project for Zarul Ahmad’s company, which was tasked with developing a highway and undersea tunnel valued at over RM6 billion. These alleged acts took place between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office.
The second amended charge accuses Lim of seeking 10 percent of the profits from the project as a bribe. This alleged solicitation occurred between 12:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. in March 2011, near The Gardens Hotel, Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur.
Additionally, Lim faces two separate charges of facilitating the disposal of two parcels of land belonging to the Penang state government, worth RM208.8 million, to companies linked to the undersea tunnel project. These transactions allegedly took place in 2015 and 2017.
The trial is set to resume on November 15, when further evidence will be presented.
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