FORMER Education Ministry secretary-general Madinah Mohamad told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that she was perplexed as to why then prime minister Najib Razak ordered that a solar hybrid project for Sarawak rural schools be carried out without proper planning.

Madinah, the sixth prosecution witness in Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial, said from her experience working with Najib, she found him to be a visionary, forward-looking and clever leader.

She said Najib, who also held the finance portfolio, was mindful about costs and planning for any project.

“Najib Razak often reminded all secretaries-general to make sure the projects being applied (for) were ‘cangkul-ready’ (ready for the groundbreaking ceremony). This means, among others, allocations must have been made, planning has been made, and the project is ready to be implemented,” she said during questioning by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib.

The proposed solar project by Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd was a high-risk one that needed careful planning and implementation, said Madinah.

“I don’t know why Najib issued instructions to undertake the high-cost, large-scale and high-risk solar hybrid project in a hurry without careful planning and a detailed study, or even without discussing with the Education Ministry in advance.”

Last week, Madinah, who was Education Ministry secretary-general from 2013 to 2016, told the court how Najib’s wife, Rosmah, asked her to expedite the project, which was awarded to Jepak Holdings.

Rosmah, 69, faces three corruption charges, one of which is for soliciting RM187.5 million from Jepak Holdings’ managing director, Saidi Abang Samsudin, as an inducement to help the company secure the contract.

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

Madinah previously testified how then education minister Mahdzir Khalid complained to her about pressure from Najib over the project.

Najib was upset at the project’s delay, and Mahdzir was worried about the financial and legal implications for his ministry.

Madinah finished giving her testimony today. Tomorrow, she will be cross-examined by the defence, led by lawyer Jagjit Singh.

Jagjit told the court that the cross-examination will be conducted tomorrow by his co-counsel, Akberdin Abdul Kader, who is unwell today.

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan presides over the trial. – February 17, 2020.