[UPDATED] Dr Mahathir, Bersatu received RM2.6 mil donation via nephew: witness

KUALA LUMPUR – Is former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad one of the many indirect recipients of financial contributions handed out by Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB)?

Yes, according to one witness in the corruption trial of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi being heard at the Shah Alam High Court today.

During the cross-examination by the defence, the Malay Mail reported that UKSB administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun said that Dr Mahathir and Bersatu – a party he founded – indirectly received RM2.6 million in political funding via his nephew Tan Sri Rahmat Abu Bakar.

UKSB is a Malaysian company that has been implicated in Zahid’s trial linked to the award of a foreign visa system (VLN) contract.

The company had kept a ledger, also known as “Buku 555”, that was submitted as evidence, containing records of payments made by UKSB to several individuals between 2014 and 2018.

Today, Tan admitted to making entries in the ledger when questioned by Zahid’s lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal.

Rahmat is referred to as “Kedahan” in the ledger, Tan said, as the entry was shown to the court.

When asked why RM2.6 million was paid to Rahmat, Tan told the court that it was “for Dr Mahathir and Bersatu, I believe it is for a political fund”.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Tan told the court that UKSB had given political contributions to Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, through the latter’s good friend Datuk Teo Wee Cheng, who is the SHH Resources Sdn Bhd director.

The witness also agreed with Zaidi that the money received by Zahid was meant as political funds.

Zaidi: “Do you see Tun Mahathir and Tan Sri Muhyiddin in court next to Zahid?”

Tan: “No.”

Zahid, 69, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes totalling S$13.56 million (RM43.5 million) from UKSB for himself as then home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of the One Stop Centre service in China and the VLN system as well as to maintain the contract agreement to supply the VLN integrated system to the same company by the Home Ministry.

For another seven counts, Zahid was charged as then home minister to have obtained for himself S$1,150,000, RM3 million, 15,000 Swiss Francs and US$15,000 in cash from the same company in connection with his official work.

He is charged with committing all the offences at Seri Satria, Presint 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018.

The trial before judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues tomorrow. – The Vibes, July 25, 2022