THE sixth prosecution witness in Rosmah Mansor’s graft trial, Madinah Mohamad, told the court the accused had asked her to expedite the solar hybrid project in Sarawak, which was awarded to Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.

While reading her witness statement, Madinah, who was the secretary-general of the Education Ministry from 2013-2016, said the “extraordinary” incident took place after she attended a Rosmah-founded Yayasan Permata event in Putrajaya.

Madinah said she attended the Permata event in the capacity of being a board member. She told the court that Rosmah was also at the event.

“The extraordinary incident took place after the Permata event finished. Rosmah was walking towards her car. I was accompanying her from the back with other VVIPs.

“When Rosmah got into the car, she wound down the window and waved and called me. When I went near, she told me something like ‘You look into the Jepak project. Expedite it.’

“I replied ‘Insha Allah’ and she left,” Madinah testified.

Madinah said she was shocked at Rosmah’s special interest in the project and began to wonder why as Rosmah had never requested her assistance in government projects before this.

Madinah said Rosmah had only asked help from her regarding Permata programmes.

The witness added that Rosmah’s request had created a “sense of urgency” in her to follow up immediately.

She said she felt as such because of Rosmah’s position as the wife of then prime minister Najib Razak, adding that she viewed Rosmah as someone who could influence Najib.

“If I don’t take action, Rosmah can complain to Najib about the delay from my end. In addition, the (former) prime minister is the one who issued the instructions to implement the solar hybrid project by Jepak, replacing the diesel genset project.

“So, as a civil servant, any warning from the prime minister is something that is serious,” she told the court.

Rosmah, 69, faces three corruption charges, one of which is for soliciting RM187.5 million inducement to help Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd secure the solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

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

Madinah also said Rosmah’s then aide Rizal Mansor approached her in the same Permata event and asked her regarding the status of the solar project.

She said Rizal would frequently attend official functions or events with Rosmah.

“Rizal told me to look into Jepak’s solar project and I just replied ‘Okay, okay’,” she testified.

Madinah said she could not recall the exact date the incident took place other than it was before June 2016, adding that she had little knowledge about the project when Rosmah mentioned it to her at the event. – February 13, 2020.