{
  "id": 251094,
  "title": "Guan Eng rujuk pegawai kanan negeri projek terowong, mahkamah diberitahu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/guan-eng-rujuk-pegawai-kanan-negeri-projek-terowong-mahkamah",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T05:08:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/08/07/guan-eng-rujuk-pegawai-kanan-negeri-projek-terowong-mahkamah-diberitahu"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The former Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, is facing charges for allegedly using his position to request 10% of the profits from a proposed offshore terminal project and to receive RM3.3 million in consultancy fees from businesspeople. During the questioning, lawyer Ramkarpal Singh stated that Lim sought advice from state government officials and legal advisors regarding the project's compliance with laws, during several meetings of the Penang exco in 2011. The lawyer added that issues like potential violations of landowners' rights and State Land Tenure Act were discussed in exco meetings. State Anti-Corruption Agency (SPRM) investigator Zulhilmi Ramli confirmed that these discussions were recorded during exco meetings and legal advisors' actions followed exco instructions. SPRM also recorded conversations from former State Legal Advisor Faiza Zulkifli and former state government official Farizan Darus, as part of their investigation. Lim is accused of misusing his position to request 10% of the offshore terminal project's profits and RM3.3 million in consultancy fees from businessperson Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli. He also faces two charges of falsely obtaining state land worth RM208.7 million. The court proceedings will continue on September 10.",
  "summary": "Pegawai penyiasat SPRM memberitahu Mahkamah Sesyen bahawa exco Pulau Pinang bincang sama ada projek itu sah dan penasihat undang-undang negeri bertindak ikut arahan.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng accused of misusing position for offshore project profits.",
    "RM3.3 million in consultancy fees requested from businessperson Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli.",
    "Two charges of falsely obtaining state land worth RM208.7 million."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Lim's interactions with state officials and lawyers over the project suggest he sought to legitimise his requests for a share of profits and consultancy fees through official channels.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}