BUTTERWORTH, Aug 10 — Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who faced a corruption charge in connection with the RM6.3 billion Penang roads and undersea tunnel project at the Sessions Court here today, said he is ready to clear his name and prove that he is not guilty.
“This is a baseless charge and I will fight it to prove that I am not guilty and did not receive money,” Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bagan, told a media conference at his constituency service centre here after the court proceedings.
Also present were his father Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP advisor and MP for Iskandar Puteri, his sister Lim Hui Ying, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, MP for Jelutong R.S.N Rayer and his lawyers Gobind Singh Deo and Ramkarpal Singh.
Guan Eng was charged with using his position when he was chief minister of Penang to receive gratification of more than RM3.3 million to help a company to secure the project,,
On Friday (Aug 7), Guan Eng Guan Eng had also pleaded not guilty at the KL Sessions Court when charged with soliciting gratification to help the company to secure the Penang roads and undersea tunnel project.
He is alleged to have sought 10 per cent of the profit to be made by the company from Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, who is the company owner.
The Butterworth court allowed the RM1 million bail granted to Guan Eng by the KL Sessions Court on Friday to also apply for his case today and transferred this case to the KL court for both the charges to be tried together.
The tunnel and roads and project, expected to begin in 2023, is to link the mainland with Penang island,
Meanwhile, Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) police chief ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor at a separate press conference reminded all parties including supporters, who will follow the charging of Guan Eng and his wife Betty Chew by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on a different case at the same court tomorrow, to adhere to COVID-19 prevention standard operating procedures (SOPS) and other instructions issued by the authorities.
In other developments, a pressman from a local daily was detained by police for using a drone without a permit outside the Butterworth court.
Police seized the drone and other electronic equipment that he was carrying and brought him to the police station for questioning.
