FORMER Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin today told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that he had offered a political donation to Najib Razak in appreciation for his help to secure a solar hybrid project for the company.

Saidi, the 17th witness in Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial, said since he was unable to meet Najib, as the former prime minister was busy, he decided to pass the political donation through his wife.

The witness said he and business partner, Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, came up with the idea of a  political donation and they were willing to offer 10% of the project cost.  

“The political donation was meant to be offered to Najib as a sign of appreciation but since he was  busy, we decided to do it through his wife, Rosmah.

“This political donation was meant to strengthen the political stability of Barisan Nasional and Umno,” Saidi said under cross-examination by Rosmah’s counsel, Akberdin Abdul Kader.

Najib led the BN government from 2009 until it lost power to Pakatan Harapan two years ago.

The RM1.25 billion project to install solar panels in 369 schools in rural Sarawak has been discontinued, but Jepak Holdings collected more than RM60 million in advance payment. 

Saidi said he turned to Najib after his initial approach with then Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid, somewhere in mid 2015, failed.

Najib in December 2015 sent a note to Mahdzir, agreeing to implement the solar hybrid project. The note, or “minute”, was obtained through Pekan Umno secretary Ahmad Aazmey Abu Talib.

This note from Najib, however, did not speed up matters with the Education Ministry and Saidi believed Mahdzir was delaying the issuance of Letter of Award (LOA).

It was then when Saidi decided to seek Rosmah’s help.

Saidi and Rayyan met Rosmah’s aide, Rizal Mansor, to arrange a meeting with the former prime minister’s wife.

The meeting, their first with Rosmah, eventually took place at her Langgak Duta residence in Kuala Lumpur between January and February 2016.

It was then that Saidi allegedly offered Rosmah 10% of the RM1.25 billion project as a political contribution.

Akberdin: You told Rizal about the first minute you received from former PM (Najib). Since he was busy, you and Rayyan intended to hand the political donation through Rosmah.

Saidi: Yes. I told Rizal that.

Akberdin: So, in short, this political donation was in gratitude to the PM for his note and you wanted to make the political donation to Rosmah for the political stability of Barisan Nasional and Umno.

Saidi: Yes.

Saidi said the meeting with Rosmah lasted around five minutes and she did not appear to be shocked with the offer despite it being their first meeting.

“She looked normal,” Saidi said, adding that Rosmah did not negotiate any deal with him, but instead told him to deal with Rizal.

The same evening, Saidi, Rayyan and Rizal met at the Lyon Bistro in Sunway Putra Mall, Kuala Lumpur.

Akberdin: That evening, Rizal said Rosmah had increased the offer from 10% to 15%? It came from Rizal’s mouth?

Saidi: Yes.

Rosmah is said to have received RM6.5 million in two tranches for her role in helping Jepak Holdings acquire the project.

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

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

Today, Saidi also confirmed that he no longer held the managing director’s position in Jepak Holdings and had sold off his shares.

Hearing will continue tomorrow with Saidi still on the witness stand. – August 18, 2020.