SHAH ALAM – The high court was today told that Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was twice requested by Datuk Seri Najib Razak to continue the contract of Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) as the sole operator of the foreign visa (VLN) system to Malaysia in China.
Azman Azra Abdul Rahman @ Md Salleh, former principal assistant secretary at the Home Ministry’s immigration affairs division, said the request was based on minutes made by the former prime minister in two letters, dated May 23, 2013 and January 20, 2014, that were sent to Zahid.
He said the letters and minutes received by Zahid, who was the then home minister, were from UKSB to Najib to request the Pekan MP’s consideration to retain the company as the sole operator of the said visa management.
“On May 23, 2013, the (then) prime minister sent a minute (in writing) to Zahid that UKSB’s application needed to be approved.
“The minute, dated January 20, 2014, states ‘YB Datuk Seri Zahid, Please Assist In This Matter. This contract should be continued’,” he said when reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Lim Wai Keong on the second day of Zahid’s corruption trial involving millions in relation to the VLN contract.
Azman Azra, who is the second prosecution witness, said on February 28, 2014, an agreement was signed between UKSB and the government to supply the VLN system.
“The agreement was for six years, from November 1, 2013 to October 31, 2019. Under the agreement, UKSB was required to develop, integrate and maintain the VLN system at its own cost, without charging any cost to the government.
“The government also allowed UKSB to collect charges at a rate that did not exceed the ceiling rate of RM105 for every application for a Malaysian visa.”
During cross-examination by lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, representing Zahid, the witness said the minutes sent by Najib to Zahid were directives.
During re-examination by DPP Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin of the first prosecution witness, Companies Commission of Malaysia assistant registrar of companies and businesses Muhamad Akmaludin Abdullah, 38, the court was told that the information recorded on the commission’s certificate did not necessarily reflect the actual financial position of UKSB.
Zahid faces 33 counts of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42.37 million) from UKSB as an inducement for himself in his capacity as a civil servant, namely the then home minister, to extend the contract of the company as operator of a one-stop service centre in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the contract to supply the VLN system’s paraphernalia to the same company by the Home Ministry.
He allegedly committed the offences at Seri Satria in Precinct 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018.
The charges, framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same act, provides for a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
On seven other charges, he is accused, in his capacity as the then home minister, with accepting S$1.15 million, RM3 million, €15,000 (RM76,145) and US$15,000 (RM62,137) without consideration from the same company that he knew had connections with his official functions.
He was charged with committing the offences at a house in Country Heights between June 2015 and October 2017.
The charges are under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
The hearing before judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues on Thursday. – Bernama, May 25, 2021
