ROSMAH Mansor’s lawyers today pressed prosecution witness Madinah Mohamad on her failure to advise then prime minister Najib Razak against the feasibility of a solar hybrid project in Sarawak schools.

Defence counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader, while cross-examining Madinah, questioned if she had taken any initiative to tell Najib that the solar project for rural Sarawak schools shouldn’t be carried out.

Akberdin also asked the former Education Ministry secretary-general if she had ever written to Najib about the problems faced by the ministry in processing Jepak Holding Sdn Bhd’s proposal for the solar project.

Madinah said she didn’t do either but had tried her best to advise the former prime minister without overstepping her boundaries.

Akberdin then said Madinah had failed in her duties miserably because she had not informed Najib about the project and that she came to court to accuse the former prime minister.

Madinah disagreed, saying hierarchy needs to be followed and she could not overstep then education minister Mahdzir Khalid, who was her boss.

Madinah also told the court that she had informed Mahdzir about the issues, who then said he would bring it to Najib’s attention.

Akberdin: Did you take any initiative on your own to meet the prime minister to explain why the project shouldn’t go through?

Madinah: I didn’t do that. I tried but couldn’t because as a public servant and secretary-general, we have a hierarchy. When I informed the minister (Mahdzir Khalid) about the problem, he told me that he would bring it up to Najib. So, I can’t overstep him.

Akberdin: Is it fair for you to say that you followed the prime minister’s order (supporting Jepak), when you have failed in your duties miserably. He was not informed in writing of the challenges in this project.

Madinah: I agree. I didn’t explain in writing.

Akberdin: You never advised the prime minister about the truth of the project?

Madinah: I didn’t give advice because of the reasons I’ve said earlier.

Akberdin pointed out that Madinah had wasted a “golden opportunity” to bring up the issue with Najib when they met in Parliament.

Referring to her witness statement, the defence lawyer said Najib had approached her and asked about the status of the project.

Akberdin said Madinah had failed to disclose the issue to Najib then, with which the witness disagreed.

Madinah also disagreed with Akberdin’s suggestion that she had deliberately suppressed information about the solar project because she had a special interest in the project.

Akberdin: Based on your witness statement, do you agree with me that you had a golden opportunity to tell him (Najib) all about of Jepak’s project weaknesses?

Madinah: Disagree.

Akberdin: I put it to you, you didn’t brief and update the PM is because you have specific interest in this project.

Madinah: Disagree.

Rosmah, the 69-year-old wife of the former prime minister, faces three corruption charges, one of which is for soliciting RM187.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin as inducement to help the company secure a RM1.25 billion contract to outfit 369 schools in Sarawak with a solar system, worth RM1.25 billion.

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

Later, during re-examination, lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram asked Madinah to explain why she couldn’t advise the prime minister about awarding the project to Jepak.

She reiterated that there was an established hierarchy in the Education Ministry and that the secretary-general reported only to the minister in charge. 

She said that any issues would need to be conveyed to the minister who would then bring it up with the prime minister, adding that such was the chain of command.

Madinah told the court that in her 36 years as a civil servant, she had never broken the chain of command.

Madinah was released from the stand today. The defence will cross-examine the seventh prosecution witness, Othman Semail, tomorrow. – February 19, 2020.