RM120,000 was mine, claims Syed Saddiq in corruption trial

KUALA LUMPUR – Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman today claimed that the RM120,000 involved in his corruption trial was his own campaign money.

In his defence hearing today, Syed Saddiq claimed that the RM120,000 were proceeds collected from two fundraising events – Makan Amal Muo and Fund-raising Battle for Johor – he organised during his 2018 general election (GE14) campaign.

He added that the fundraisers were meant for his campaign expenses that he paid for and did not involve his then party – Bersatu or its youth wing Armada.

Nonetheless, his campaign proceeds were channelled into the Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise (ABBE) bank account, which Syed Saddiq explained had the approval of former Armada assistant treasurer, and fellow G5 member Rafiq Hakim Razali.

G5 refers to five members who are needed for the meeting.

Syed Saddiq instructed Rafiq to transfer the funds, after the latter informed him of the funds raised from March to May 2018 totalling RM120,000.

“As both fundraisers are for my campaigns, so all proceeds from them are my own, and not Armada’s or Bersatu’s,” said Syed Saddiq on the witness stand.

“Therefore, I sincerely believe I have the right to determine how the funds should be spent.”

Syed Saddiq clarified he had no less than RM171,675 in savings during the campaign period, which was separate from the RM120,000 funds. As such, he considered the latter amount from his savings as monies collected through the fundraisers.

“I did so because it would be unnecessary for me to deposit RM120,000 to my savings, only to withdraw the same amount for my campaigns.”

“This is why I spent RM171,675 from my savings, with the intention that RM120,000 from it was always considered as an expenditure from the fundraisers.

“So the RM120,000 in my bank account has become my personal money, as funds from the fundraisers were instead used by my own savings and spent for my personal campaign in GE14.”

Regarding his two money-laundering charges, he said both transactions of RM50,000, done on June 16 and June 19 in 2018, were also his own.

“I have neither knowledge nor reason to believe that the fund transfers from my Maybank account to my Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) account are proceeds of unlawful activities, as the monies were definitely collected for my GE14 campaign.”

“Therefore, the funds are my own and it definitely has been used to cover the costs of my campaign.

Syed Saddiq added that his savings consisted of the ASNB withdrawals, contributions from Sinar Harian, and fundraiser proceeds.

‘Abetting RM1 million withdrawal untrue’

Regarding the charge of abetting Rafiq to withdraw RM1 million via cheque, Syed Saddiq vehemently denied instructing him or former assistant secretary Ahmad Redzuan Ahmad Shafi to make such transactions from Bersatu Youth or Armada’s official account.

The former youth and sports minister said G5 had only discussed the necessity of withdrawing funds to prepare for Covid-19, the fasting month, and Aidilfitri in 2020.

“During the discussion, I have never said that monies or funds from Armada’s account were from my efforts as Armada leader,” he said.

“All monies collected are in the ownership of Armada members for the usage of the party wing.”

He added that Rafiq was instructed to discuss with Armada excos to obtain the necessary amount for the purpose of aid, and an undisclosed amount of money was given.

Syed Saddiq said it was implausible to withdraw RM1 million from Armada’s account as the open discussion area prevented anyone from pulling aside someone else to discuss withdrawing RM1 million without being heard by another G5 member.

He added that another G5 member Ulya Uqamah Husamuddin was his right-hand man and was included in every discussion he had, and that statements by Rafiq and Redzuan were false.

Syed Saddiq also denied giving any instruction to Rafiq to clear any funds held after an investigation was conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, clarifying that their conversation was for Rafiq to protect Armada’s funds after money was stolen from Syed Saddiq’s safe.

Syed Saddiq is being tried for abetting a former Armada assistant treasurer to commit a criminal breach of trust, and for misusing party contributions amounting to RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise.

He is also facing two charges of money laundering, in two transactions of RM50,000 each, believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

In October, Syed Saddiq was ordered to enter his defence after the judge found that the prosecution had proven a prima facie case.

The court had set February 22 to 24, March 13 and 14, and April 10 to 14 as trial dates. – The Vibes, February 22, 2023