Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli maintained that he was not “making up stories” against Lim.

“I stand by what I told the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) during its investigations,” he said in the corruption trial of Lim.

Investigations related to the undersea tunnel project started in 2016.

Zarul said the content of a purported MACC witness’ statement by him, which was leaked online a few years ago, was false.

“My signature and that of the recording officer were not there,” he said.

Zarul also told the court he was under stress when the undersea tunnel case came under public scrutiny.

“I was remanded by the MACC for 11 days. Every effort that I had put into the project was almost destroyed. I couldn’t secure bank loans and other people in the business community refused to help me,” he said.

Lim is standing trial on charges of using his position as then Penang chief minister to ask Zarul for a 10% cut of profits from the undersea tunnel project and accepting RM3.3 million in kickbacks from the businessman.

He is also accused of two counts of dishonestly misappropriating RM208.7 million worth of state land to two companies.

The hearing before judge Azura Alwi continues tomorrow.