Azeez: Zenith has withdrawn demand letter, apologised over RM3m claim

Umno Baling MP Abdul Azeez Rahim, who has been mired in the controversy surrounding the Penang undersea tunnel, is set to have his name cleared of accusations he had received RM3 million for consultancy work.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Azeez said the tunnel contractor Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd has withdrawn the letter of demand sent to him on Feb 24.

"Because I am innocent. I did not received any money from Zenith. They agreed that certain quarters had sold my name to obtain the money.

"They have sent me a letter, which I received yesterday, to say they will withdraw the letter of demand, and they have apologised to me about it.

"Zenith has even offered to help me clear my name. I said thank you to them, but added that I will seek legal advice from my lawyers on my next course of action," the Tabung Haji chairperson said.

Zenith chief 'no comment'

At a press conference held earlier at the Tabung Haji complex in Sungai Ara, Penang, Azeez noted that he is mulling legal action against those who had defamed him, Umno and Tabung Haji.

He also showed the press the letter of withdrawal and apology by Zenith.

When contacted, Zenith's legal team declined to comment.

Zenith's chief executive director Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli is meanwhile still on leave, and when contacted, declined to comment about the latest development in the case against the company.

Azeez had lodged a police report about the claim that he had received RM3 million from Zenith, after being slapped with a letter of demand for allegedly failing to comply with an agreement the parties signed on July 2017.

Zenith had also issued a letter of demand to a businessperson with "datuk seri" title – who had purportedly received RM19 million in four batches from the firm – for failing to complete the agreed consultancy work on the tunnel.

The MACC has since nabbed the 37-year-old businessperson to assist in its investigations into the RM6.3 billion tunnel project, that includes three highways linking the island to Butterworth.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has insisted that the project is "clean," based on it being awarded to Zenith in 2013 via an open tender committee, headed by state secretary Farizan Darus.

Lim said he was in the dark about the demand letters, adding that Farizan has issued Zenith an official letter seeking clarification on these letter and the total of RM22 million paid to the purported "consultants." -Mkini