KUALA LUMPUR – Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the high court today that a donation of RM13.25 million from a businessman, Junaith Asharab Md Shariff, was meant for Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) welfare activities.
Zahid, 69, said that the donation was not for his personal benefit.
“Your Honour, the donation was not for me personally, it was for charity. I don’t feel anything and that’s normal,” said the Bagan Datuk MP when cross-examined by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Mohd ‘Afif Ali, while defending himself against 47 charges, namely 12 over criminal breaches of trust, eight for corruption and 27 over money laundering, involving tens of millions of ringgit from YAB funds.
‘Afif: Datuk Seri (was) not “happy” when people gave donations to Datuk Seri?
Zahid: It was not for me, I didn’t need to be “happy”; I just said “thank you”. I didn’t feel anything, it’s not for me; if it’s for me I would be happy.
However, he said that he did not question the source of the donation.
When asked by ‘Afif over whether the textile wholesaler Junaith had asked him for a tax exemption, Zahid said that he did not remember.
‘Afif: Throughout the trial of this case there was no document showing that the tax exemption, or even information related to Junaith’s contribution to YAB, was ever presented in court.
Zahid: Agree.
‘Afif: I suggest that Junaith once asked Datuk Seri that he asked for a receipt to get a tax exemption.
Zahid: I don’t remember.
Touching on YAB funds amounting to RM1.3 million given to the Royal Malaysia Police Football Association in 2015, Zahid said that the funds were in the form of loans and not sponsorships.
He said the funds were requested by his son-in-law, Datuk Zul Hisham Zainal, who is also a businessman, as financial assistance for the players and staff of the football association, who had not been paid for four months.
Zahid agreed with DPP Nur Aishah Ahmad Zakiuddin’s suggestion that he was the one who instructed his former executive secretary, Major Mazlina Mazlan @ Ramly, to provide the RM1.3 million cheque to the football association, and had signed the cheque.
Asked by Nur Aishah whether YAB, which is meant for charity, could provide funds to the football association, Zahid explained that if they did not receive their salary for four months, they would suffer financially because they were unable to cover their daily expenses, house and car instalments.
Zahid also denied that the RM1.3 million given to the football association amounted to criminal breach of trust because the money had been paid back to YAB.
Meanwhile, Zahid disagreed with the prosecution’s suggestion that he often blamed others while testifying in court.
“‘I’m not blaming others, it’s the truth and that’s what really happened. My statement is based on the oath I read (in court),” he said.
In today’s proceedings, lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, who represents Zahid, said that the defence will call 43 witnesses.
Zahid’s defence team previously informed the court that it would call 20 witnesses.
On January 24, the court ordered Zahid to enter his defence on the 47 charges.
The trial, before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, continues on Monday. – Bernama, August 23, 2022
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