The contractor for Penang undersea tunnel Consortium Zenith Construction (CZC) Sdn Bhd has denied a series of allegations on graft posted on Malaysia Today, a political blog run by Raja Petra Kamaruddin.
CZC senior executive director Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli (photo, above) described Raja Petra's postings as a "series of nefarious posts" on the road projects and undersea tunnel linking the island to mainland Butterworth as part of the Penang Transport Master Plan.
Asked if he was planning to take legal action against Raja Petra over these claims, Zarul said, "It's a waste of resources as he is not in the country."
"I want to focus my time and efforts on the project," he told Malaysiakini today.
Zarul dismissed Raja Petra's blog posts as "pure fiction", saying it was clearly concocted to deceive and defame him, his company and the Penang government.
"Even Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said it is a lie," he said.
"Lest we forget, I have been once remanded for 11 days by MACC for what was billed as an extensive investigation into the project," he recalled.
Zarul said that besides him, his entire company was called for questioning, and had spent 40 days going in and out of the MACC office.
He said he had cooperated in answering questions on every single aspect being investigated, including close scrutiny of the company's accounts.
Zarul said the MACC had even hired external consultants to see if the company was fair in its pricing.
"Clearly, given the magnitude of our project, our prices were fair, justified and above board.
"May I remind all sceptics out there that this case was investigated and completed way before the change of government had taken place.
"There was plenty of time to level charges against me or anyone else alleged to have received bribes," he added.
Zarul's remarks follow Finance Miniter Lim Guan Eng's comments, condemning Raja Petra's claims as "ridiculous lies", saying the contract was awarded to CZC via open tender, so "how can there be corruption?".
The former Penang chief minister had been targetted as one of five executive council members who had received bribes, allegedly admitted by Zarul in a series of purported leaked MACC investigation papers.
The MACC has lodged a police report against Raja Petra.
Zarul said his primary goal now was to put all of his resources into this project as soon as possible.
"If all the deliverables can be achieved on time, we expect to start construction on Aug 31," Zarul said.
"It has been very challenging for me over the years to counter every single allegation, but the truth has always prevailed."
"I pray that God gives me the strength to persevere and complete the task I am tasked to do," he added. - Mkini
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