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Monday, November 29, 2021

Guan Eng corruption trial: Nazri Aziz says he introduced Zenith-BUGG MD to former Penang CM

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Guan Eng corruption trial: Nazri Aziz says he introduced Zenith-BUGG MD to former Penang CM


DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng arrives at the Penang High Court in George Town November 22, 2021. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Former minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz admitted to receiving RM500,000 from Consortium Zenith-BUCG Sdn Bhd to help repair dilapidated religious schools in southern Thailand, the Sessions Court was told today.

Nazri, who was former culture, arts and tourism minister from 2013 to 2018, was testifying as the 14th prosecution witness at Lim Guan Eng’s undersea tunnel corruption trial today.

He said this during cross-examination by Lim’s lawyer Gobind Singh Deo who queried him on questions posed by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigators into the case.

Gobind: Did they ask you whether you received money from Zenith-BUCG managing director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli for the introduction or the project?

Nazri: No.

Gobind: Did he (Zarul) give you any money?

Nazri: Yes, a RM500,000 contribution to help rehabilitate dilapidated religious schools in Pattani district in southern Thailand.

In his witness statement, Nazri testified that he had known Zarul since the 1990s as an acquaintance of his old friends, but not in terms of politics or business.

He also conceded that it was he who introduced Zarul to Lim after the latter expressed a desire to meet someone “powerful” in Penang regarding a project, which he did not name at the material time around late-2010 to early-2011.

“Zarul informed me that he wanted to know someone of influence in Penang to get him a project.

“But I did not know what project that was. I cannot remember the date he told me this.

“I took the initiative to contact and ask Lim if he is interested to meet Zarul regarding projects in Penang,” Nazri said.

Nazri said Lim subsequently agreed to meet with Zarul and he then arranged a meeting in January 2011 at Hotel Shangri-La at 9pm.

In this trial, Lim faces four charges, one under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act for having allegedly solicited kickbacks of 10 per cent of future profits from Zarul as a reward to help the latter’s company secure the project in March 2011, as the then CM.

He is also facing a charge under Section 23(1) of the same Act for allegedly receiving RM3.3 million in kickbacks from Zarul between January 2011 and October 2017 for allegedly helping the latter’s company secure the mega project.


3 comments:

  1. Lim Guan Eng and Nazri's flirtation had no good ending

    ReplyDelete
  2. DSA does not loss support because of his own doing. Firstly, PKR was abandoned by chinese DAP supporters, they instead vote for MCA.

    Second is the resurgence of UMNO and BN popularity. Do not blame Anwar, the malays hate the antics of almost all DAP leaders when they were given the trust to co-govern.

    I dont think it will happen again. No, not a chance.

    Though UMNO is not replete with good and able leaders, it is a much safer risk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mferng fart!

      "the malays hate the antics of almost all DAP leaders when they were given the trust to co-govern."

      The antics of not toeing the ketuanan narratives, right?

      How about the ketuanan freaks, for once, agreeing to a format of co-govern based on fair sharing & meritocracy with the Nons?

      Delete