FORMER education minister Mahdzir Khalid told the high court today that he did not solicit for or receive any bribe from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin in connection with a solar hybrid project in Sarawak. 

He said that the project contract worth RM1.25 billion was awarded to Jepak because he was following the orders of then prime minister Najib Razak, adding that he was also pressured by Saidi’s “team” to award the project to the company. 

“I did not solicit for or receive any bribes from Saidi. There was no urgent need for me to do that. 

“I was just following orders from Datuk Seri Najib Razak to award the project to Jepak,” he said, at the conclusion of his written testimony today. He is the prosecution’s fifth witness.

Last week, Mahdzir Khalid the Kuala Lumpur High Court that he was under pressure from multiple quarters, including Rosmah Mansor, to award a solar hybrid project in Sarawak to a less-than-capable company.

Rosmah, the 69-year-old wife of former prime minister, faces three corruption charges, one of which is for soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi as inducement to help the company secure a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

She is also accused of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017. 

Before the court went into session, Rosmah was seated in the public gallery, where she was seen chatting and giggling with her supporters. She kept smiling as she walked towards the dock and took her seat.

Mahdzir said in the witness box that Saidi and his partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah weren’t happy about one of the clauses in their contract to outfit 369 schools with a hybrid solar system.

The clause gave the Education Ministry the right to terminate the contract and reduce the number of schools in the project in the event some schools are found to be connected to the electric grid lines.

Mahdzir said Saidi had called Rosmah’s then aide, Rizal Mansor and passed the phone to Mahdzir.

Mahdzir said Rizal told him not to make things difficult, and that the project was known to “ma’am”.

He said he understood that by “ma’am” Rizal meant Rosmah.

Mahdzir said he then instructed Education Ministry secretary-general Alias Ahmad to amend the letter of acceptance to how Jepak wanted it. Mahdzir said he signed the amended letter on November 10, 2016 . 

Before the defence started cross-examination of Mahdzir, an argument broke out in court between the prosecution and the defence.

This was when lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram wanted to play an audio recording and ask Mahdzir to identify the voices in it.

High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed the audio to be played.

It was a audio recording of Rosmah and her husband Najib, which was released by MACC last month.

Mahdzir identified the voices, and the defence started its cross-examination.

Defence lawyer Jagjit Singh asked Mahdzir if he had ever received RM50,000 from Saidi, to which Mahdzir said no.

Jagjit: Do you remember, in December 2015, you went to London on a family trip?

Mahdzir: I don’t remember the date.

Jagjit: You told Saidi about the trip to London. RM50,000 was given for expenses in London. Saidi’s statement says this.

Mahdzir: I don’t agree.

Jagjit: So either you or Saidi are telling lies.

Jagjit continued by asking if Mahdzir had compromised his intergrity because he didn’t want to be charged by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the prosecution. Mahdzir denied this too.

Jagjit: I put it to you that you sold your credibility and honesty to MACC and the prosecution so that they don’t prefer charges against you.

Mahdzir: I disagree.

Jagjit: You struck a deal with the prosecution and MACC so that they drop charges against you.

Mahdzir: I don’t agree.

Jagjit then questioned Mahdzir on the letters, minutes and procedures, minutes and how often he and Saidi met, before asking for the judge to adjourn the session.

Trial will resume at 10am tomorrow. – February 10, 2020.