Businessman’s tale of how he won ‘crooked bridge’ deal
By Yow Hong Chieh
March 10, 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — A businessman offered a glimpse into how government contracts are secured when he told the High Court today his access to senior officials and influential ministers secured him the rights to the Malaysia-Singapore International Gateway bridge project, better known as the “crooked bridge”.
“It was all based on my effort,” Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah told the court today.
Shazryl Eskay said that, in addition to approaching the late Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub for help, he had also helped second defendant, Datuk Yahya A. Jalil, gain access to then-deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
But Shazryl Eskay was quick to stress that he did not have any power over either Megat Junid or Anwar, and insisted that he got the contract through the merits of the project and the companies involved.
“I did not influence them, but convinced them,” Shazryl Eskay said.
He had filed a lawsuit in January 2002, claiming breach of contract by Merong Mahawangsa Sdn Bhd and Yahya for failing to pay him RM20 million after he procured the project for them.
In his statement of claim, Shazryl Eskay said Yahya, executive director and major shareholder of Merong Mahawangsa, had enlisted his help to procure the project from the government and to secure RM640 million in foreign funds for the project.
He claimed the second defendant had sought his help for his “discretion and good relations” with the government.
Shazryl Eskay said the second defendant suggested RM20 million in remunerations for his services, which has not been paid.
The “crooked bridge” project was terminated by the Abdullah administration in 2006.
Shazryl Eskay is seeking a RM20 million payment from the defendants as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Yahya, however, in his defence statement denied using the plaintiff’s close ties with the government and Megat Junid’s family as it was “against public policy, wild and illegal”.
The court was also told today that Shazryl Eskay and Yahya had started talks to settle the matter out of court to avoid “embarrassing some personalities involved”.
Justice VT Singham, however, ordered the trial to continue until such a settlement is reached.
He also rejected a request by Yahya’s lawyer to adjourn the matter until the latter returns from a business trip to Jeddah with former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The trial continues tomorrow at 8.30am.
anakmelayu · 1 day ago
And a former PM claims that the crooked bridge was his idea and has been mooting for it ever since.... lies, lies and more lies
richman · 1 day ago
now you all know why it is called a crooked bridge;all the professional crooks were involved for a piece of the cake
MainDuaBola 121p · 10 hours ago
You know what, the cake is also crooked.
dayak4change · 1 day ago
52 years of BN's rule is too long and help to stimulate abuse of power!!!!!
change28 · 22 hours ago
"The court was also told today that Shazryl Eskay and Yahya had started talks to settle the matter out of court to avoid “embarrassing some personalities involved”.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And there you have it!
All unscrupulous acts are quickly hidden away from the innocent public.
These are Mahathir's "Towering Malaysians". What a shame!
hello · 21 hours ago
Hello MACC where are you? Come on lah act now!!!!!
jaasman torrezza · 21 hours ago
The young generation of Malaysia will inherit a country that's broke.
Rakyat Biasa · 8 hours ago
If the dots connections are correct; Shazryl Eskay > Megat > Bapa Perkauman,
That would explain why Bapa Perkauman is always grinding his teeth and making so much noise that this project was cancelled. It is for the Rakyat he says...yeah right.
baiyuensheng · 6 hours ago
How come all these projects are not discussed at the cabinet level - but decided by a few individuals?????
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/businessmans-tale-of-how-he-won-crooked-bridge-deal
