Former Penang CM unlikely to interfere over tunnel project, says Zenith boss

KUALA LUMPUR (July 3): Former Penang chief minister and current finance minister "has bigger issues to settle" in Putrajaya and most probably not "interfere" in the state’s tunnel project, Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) senior executive director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli.

Speaking to the news portal Malaysiakini, Zarul said the fate of the RM6.3 million tunnel project lies “very much on the current Penang leadership”, led by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

"It all depends on the stewardship of our current chief minister.

"We will provide him with all the feasibility reports. We will him give all the options so he can decide whether he wants the undersea tunnel, bridge, or other options, for the best (interest) of Penangites," Zarul said.

Lim had expressed his preference for a third bridge during his time as chief minister of Penang when the tunnel mega project came under heavy criticism from non-government organisations and Barisan Nasional politicians.

"Either way I am okay. Saya turut perintah (I follow orders). Whatever the state government wants, I will comply," Zarul said when asked by Malaysiakini to comment on his preference for a tunnel or bridge.

The controversial RM6.3 billion proposed tunnel got more negative limelight when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) began investigating the mega project in 2016 and resumed its investigations this year, notably arresting several people including a “Datuk Seri”.

Zarul said the company was duped into paying off two individuals who claimed to have high-level connections within the authorities in the RM22 million corruption allegations levelled against the company, reported the Malay Mail yesterday

The individuals had threatened CZC, saying action will be taken against company if they did not meet their demands.

“It is like putting a gun to our head. We were conned into it in that sense,” he told the portal.

Confirming that the amount was paid out to the individuals, Zarul Ahmad however declined to reveal more as MACC is investigating the case, only saying that the company had complied with the law.

He added the company had met with the Penang state government two weeks ago to explain why it paid the RM22 million and the state was satisfied with its explanations.