PETALING JAYA: Lim Guan Eng received a total of RM44,375 monthly, comprising a RM14,175 salary and RM30,200 in allowances when he was Penang chief minister between March 2008 and May 2018, the Sessions Court heard.

       Former Penang state assembly chief assistant secretary Mohd Farulizam Che Meh, who is the 20th prosecution witness, said Lim was sworn in as the state chief minister on March 11, 2008 after he was elected as Air Puteh assemblyman three days prior.

       When reading out his witness statement, he said Lim held the post for two terms until May 14, 2018 and earned a monthly salary of RM14,175 and allowances of RM30,200.

       “Lim had also declared his assets and other income on the Penang state portal,” he said during direct examination from Deputy Public Prosecutor Francine Cheryl Rajendram.

       Mohd Farulizam, who is Penang Land and Mines Office deputy director, also told the court that the Penang state constitution prohibits the chief minister and state executive councillors from being involved in any commercial activities.

       “The chief minister is not allowed to hold any position in any company.

       “The state executive council members are prohibited from having anything to do with businesses or hold professions involving their responsibilities as state officials,” he said.

       Earlier, Lim’s counsel Haijan Omar said that Lim had been discharged from the National Heart Institute and would appear in court on Thursday (Dec 16).

       Lim’s corruption had gone on for two days without his presence following his hospitalisation on Sunday following a medical procedure.

       Lim, 60, is facing four corruption charges involving the proposed construction of an undersea tunnel and paired roads project in Penang.

       For the first amended charge, Lim is charged with using his position as then Penang chief minister to corruptly receive RM3.3mil to help Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkefli’s company secure the project in Penang worth RM6,341,383,702.

       The offence was allegedly committed between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office.

       For the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting 10% profits from Zarul Ahmad to help the company get appointed for the same project.

       Lim is charged with committing the offence near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City here, in March 2011, between 12.30am and 2am.

       Lim is also charged with two counts of causing two lots of land worth RM208.8mil owned by the Penang state government to be disposed of by the developer linked to the undersea tunnel project.

       The offences were allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office in Komtar on Feb 17, 2015, and March 22, 2017.