Understanding the Penang Undersea Tunnel Project Sasha Binti Asharuddin & Tan Jia Qi
In early August 2020, a series of headlines in Malaysia’s major newspaper received national attention which stated that the former finance minister Lim Guan Eng was arrested by MACC on corruption charges linked to the RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project. Lim, who had served as the Penang chief minister from 2008 to 2018, was charged under Section 16(a)(A) and Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 403 of the Penal Code. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Date Offences
Charges
7th August 2020
Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
Requesting 10% of the profits from the undersea tunnel project from Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd senior executive director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, as a bribe in order to get the contract for the project.
10th August 2020
Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
Using his position as the then Penang chief minister to obtain RM3.3 million gratification as an inducement for helping Datuk Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli’s company to secure the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.
11th September 2020 Section 403 of the Penal Code
Causing the Penang Land Registrar to dispose the first state land – PT Lot 702 in Bandar Tanjong Pinang, worth RM135,086 million to Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd.
11th September 2020 Section 403 of the Penal Code
Causing the state land registrar to dispose another plot of state land at PT Lot 10012 in Bandar Tanjong Pinang, worth RM73,668 million to Zenith Urban Development Sdn Bhd.
What is the Undersea Tunnel project about? The RM6.3 billion project consists of four components, including three toll-free roads on the island and a tolled tunnel. The 7.2km undersea tunnel will connect George Town on Penang Island to Butterworth on the mainland and the three main highways comprising the 10.53km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road, 5.7km Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and 4.1km Gurney Drive-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway paired roads.
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