THE High Court was told today that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had instructed his former senior private secretary to issue a cover letter to extend the implementation period of the foreign visa system (VLN) and Evisa to Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) for six years from 2019 to 2025.

Ninth witness, Muhd ​​Khair Razman Mohamed Annuar, who is now deputy secretary general of operations at the Human Resources Ministry, said he was instructed by the former deputy prime minister to issue the letter, dated February 14, 2017,  to the home ministry secretary-general .

 “Along with the letter, I enclosed a letter from UKSB to Ahmad Zahid, with the title ‘Extension of Implementation Period for  VLN and Evisa System for  Six Years from October 31, 2019 to 2025 In Line With The Development And Implementation Of The National Immigration Control System (SKIN), dated February 8, 2017,” he added.

He said this when reading out his witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong.

During the hearing on December 22 last year, sixth prosecution witness, former Home Ministry secretary-general Alwi Ibrahim told the court that he was unhappy with Zahid’s decision to extend UKSB’s contract for the implementation of the VLN system because it was made too early, as the expiry of the contract had a long way to end.

Khair, 56, said Zahid also instructed him to issue two more cover letters to the Home Ministry secretary-general, dated May 16 and June 16, 2017.

He said the cover letter dated May 16, 2017 was for an application to extend the implementation period of the One Stop Center (OSC) service contract for the Visa Facilitation Services in China for six years.

The eighth witness Abdul Halim Mohammad, 55, said he had signed a cover letter dated October 24, 2016 which was forwarded to Alwi regarding the application for approval to extend the VLN and Evisa contracts for a period of six years to UKSB.

“This type of cover letter is routinely handled by the minister’s office that then confirms its receipt” said Abdul Halim, who is Ahmad Zahid’s former political secretary.

Zahid, 69, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to RM41.55 million from UKSB as inducement for himself, as home minister, by extending the contract of the company as the OSC service operator in OSC in China and the VLN system, as well as retaining the contract agreement to supply the VLN integrated system to the same company by the home ministry.

For the seven other charges, Ahmad Zahid is alleged, as home minister to have obtained for himself, SG$1.15 million (RM3.52 million),  RM3 million, €15,000 (RM68,120) and US$15,000 (RM62,662) from UKSB that had links with his official duties.

The hearing b continues tomorrow. – Bernama, March 7, 2022.