FORMR education minister Mahdzir Khalid today denied allegations that Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin and partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah were his cronies.

Mahdzir, who was being cross-examined by defence lawyer Jagjit Singh, was asked if he had spoken to then prime minister Najib Razak or his wife Rosmah Mansor about Rayyan.

Mahdzir said he had told Najib that Rayyan was Saidi’s partner but said he did not tell Rosmah that.

Jagjit pointed out it was not stated anywhere in his witness statement that he had explained to Najib about Rayyan. Jagjit alleged that Saidi and Rayyan were Mahdzir’s cronies because he had accepted dirty money from them.

Jagjit: In your statement, it is mentioned that the PM asked you who Rayyan was. Did you tell the PM who Rayyan was?

Mahdzir: Yes, I told him that he was Saidi’s partner.

Jagjit: Why is that not written in your witness statement? You just said that Rayyan is a representative of Jepak but did you tell Najib that Saidi and Rayyan were your cronies?

Mahdzir: When were they my cronies? I disagree.

Jagjit: You took money from them. So they are your cronies.

Mahdzir: Disagree.

Jagjit proceeded to question Mahdzir on his witness statement where he had said that Rosmah also mentioned she didn’t know who Rayyan was. He asked Mahdzir if he had told Rosmah that Saidi and Rayyan were his cronies, which Mahdzir also denied doing.

Jagjit told the court that Mahdzir had testified that Rosmah contacted him on December 22, 2016 but the letter of award was issued on November 10, 2016.

Based on this, Jagjit made the assertion that Madhzir had concealed facts from Rosmah because he had accepted money from Saidi. Mahdzir disagreed to this.

Rosmah, the 69-year-old wife of former prime minister Naiib, 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.

Jagjit today also referred to another point in Mahdzir’s statement which said he wasn’t confident about Jepak’s capability to carry out the solar project.

The lawyer asked Mahdzir if he had mentioned his lack of confidence to Najib, the cabinet or parliament. Mahdzir replied he only brought it up withthen Education Ministry secretary-general Alias Ahmad.

Mahdzir said that there was no need for him to bring this matter to the cabinet because it was under the purview of the Education Ministry and that there were also no rule to say that such issues should be brought to the MPs.

Jagjit again told the court that Mahdzir had concealed all the facts from everyone because he had accepted money.

Jagjit: It is very firm in your mind that you were not confident. Did you inform the cabinet?

Mahdzir: No. There was no need as the project was under the Education Ministry’s purview.

Jagjit: Did you tell PM Najib?

Mahdzir: No.

Jagjit: Your secretary-general?

Mahdzir: Yes.

Jagjit: Did you bring this to parliament?

Mahdzir: No. There is no rule that says it should be brought to parliament.

Jagjit: I put it to you that you concealed these facts because you received corrupt money.

Mahdzir: I disagree.

Jagjit next made the assertion to the witness that Jepak had made a complaint to Najib about the delay of the project. Jagjit alleged that Mahdzir stalled the project because he hadn’t received his first kickback payment of RM1 million, which Saidi had agreed to pay. Mahdzir disagreed.

Yesterday, Mahdzir was accused of being the “most corrupt” education minister for agreeing to approve a solar hybrid project in Sarawak in exchange for a RM60 million kickback.

The lawyer alleged that the RM60 million was to be paid in RM1 million monthly instalments over a period of five years. – February 12, 2020.