KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today revealed that the Yayasan Akalbudi charitable foundation had borne part of the cost for a delegation of Malaysian authorities to travel to Ukraine in 2014 immediately following the tragic shooting down of flight MH17.
This is after the group consisting of high-ranking officials, police and other security personnel failed to obtain an advance payment from the federal government to cover the expenses, he told the high court during the Yayasan Akalbudi trial.
The former deputy prime minister said the cost included expenditure for flight tickets, accommodations and food, but stopped short of revealing the amount.
At the time, Zahid was serving as home minister.
“When the aircraft was shot down, due to the urgency of the incident and to recover the bodies, the then inspector general of police and I went to ground zero in Ukraine.
“Then, we didn’t get an advance payment from the government. Hence, Yayasan Akalbudi decided to bear part of the travelling cost for the forensics team, the police and other security personnel.”
Zahid said this during his defence statement when taking the stand in the graft trial involving his foundation.
He was elaborating on the millions of ringgit that were spent by Yayasan Akalbudi on charitable works since it was formed in 1997.
The Malaysia Airlines MH17 passenger flight was shot down by pro-Russian rebels over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014 while on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 298 people on board.
During his defence statement, Zahid also sought to explain the RM1.3 million given by Yayasan Akalbudi to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Football Association (FA) in 2015 to pay for four months of player salary arrears, as had been reported.
According to the Umno president, the sum was given as a form of a loan to address the issue of late wages, particularly as the football club comprised foreign and professional players.
Previously in December 2019, PDRM FA’s assistant secretary Mohd Nizam Mohd Nor had testified in court that the association had received a RM1.3 million cheque from Yayasan Akalbudi in November 2015.
Zahid, who is testifying under oath today, is the first witness to take the stand in the trial which will convene for 39 days until November.
He is facing 47 charges, 12 involving criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions ringgit belonging to the foundation.
Charity stopped after account frozen
Speaking before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, Zahid said Yayasan Akalbudi’s charitable activities had halted after its account was frozen following his court charges.
Among others, he noted that the construction of Masjid Tuminah Hamidi in his constituency of Bagan Datuk, which the foundation had donated RM38 million to, has been delayed for over 800 days.
An annual RM80,000 donation to a group of volunteer doctors providing free medical service to the needy has also since stopped.
When asked by his defence team why the foundation had also donated funds for the construction of multipurpose halls in Hindu, Buddhist and Christian houses of worship, Zahid said it stems from his character of being a true Malaysian.
“Although Islam is my religion, I am doing justice by being fair to other religions. It is my responsibility to provide service to other religions in order for them to conduct their activities.”
Zahid had told the court earlier that among the objectives of Yayasan Akalbudi was to help Muslims in need.
The trial will resume on Friday, with Zahid again taking the stand. – The Vibes, April 13, 2022
