Former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied receiving bribes in connection with the undersea tunnel project in Penang.
In a press conference held at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, Guan Eng said that the allegations against him were politically motivated and questioned the event of corruption as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) never asked him about it, reported Astro Awani.
“I want to stress that I never received any bribes, and I’ve said this to MACC. And they never asked me to show proof of whether I got millions or billions of ringgit in my bank account, or whether I had millions of ringgit in cash in my possession,” the former Finance Minister said.
The politician added that the undersea tunnel project was awarded on an open tender basis, and to date, “not a single cent” has been paid for the tunnel project, according to CNA.
“I will fight to prove my innocence in court, and I believe that truth will show that I have not received any bribes and there is no corruption,” he said.
Guan Eng, also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bagan added that the accusation was also aimed at tarnishing his image as an opposition MP.
This morning (7 August), Guan Eng pleaded not guilty in court after the charges against him were read before Judge Azura Alwi, said sources from Sinar Harian. The charges claimed that Guan Eng asked for a bribe to receive 10% of the profits that would have been obtained by the company director, Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli.
This bribe was allegedly requested to help Zarul’s appointment over the Main Road and Tunnel Construction Project in Penang. The Sessions Court declared that a bail amounting to RM1 million will be set against the former Finance Minister.
Judge Azura Alwi ordered that RM500,000 of the bail be paid today while the balance should be paid by Monday, reports Utusan Malaysia.
Guan Eng will also have his personal and diplomatic passport taken away and kept by the court until the case is completed. Next week, Guan Eng will be arraigned in the Butterworth Sessions Court, Penang to face two similar charges.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Also read: UPDATE: Lim Guan Eng Pleads Not Guilty, Bail Set At RM1 Million
