Businessman Zarul Ahmad Zulkifli said he was only cooperating with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in its investigation into the undersea tunnel case.

“I don’t care if YB Lim will be convicted or not. I leave it to the court to decide based on my evidence,” Zarul told judge Azura Alwi.

He also said he has no reason to hold a grudge against Lim.

“In fact, I feel indebted to him, and always pray for him,” he said.

Zarul said he was remanded by MACC for 11 days six years ago over the undersea tunnel investigation and described the experience as “traumatising”.

“I didn’t get enough sleep and my blood pressure went up. I wasn’t in the right state of mind,” he said.

Asked by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin what he disclosed to investigators during his remand, Zarul said he told them about money paid to Lim and fellow businessman G Gnanaraja.

“They asked me to focus on Gnanaraja’s case and said there will be a special probe against YB Lim later,” he said.

Wan Shaharuddin: Did you know what happened to Gnanaraja’s case?

Zarul: He was convicted under the Companies Act.

Lim is standing trial on charges of using his position as then Penang chief minister to ask Zarul for a 10% cut of the 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.

The hearing continues on Sept 20.