THE Shah Alam High Court was today told that former deputy prime minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had asked Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) to give financial aid as political donations to Umno.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating officer V. Mahendran, 38, said Zahid made the request when two former UKSB directors – Harry Lee Vui Khiun and Wan Quoris Shah Wan Abdul Ghani – came to his residence at Country Heights, Kajang.

The 18th prosecution witness said Zahid, as the then home minister, had the power and huge influence in deciding the policies and directions of the government, and the Home Ministry in particular.

“UKSB agreed to give political donations so as to ensure its business would not be interrupted, as there were several other companies lobbying for the job undertaken by UKSB, namely relating to the visa system.

“Investigations also revealed that those cash donations, which were given on monthly basis to Zahid, were prepared by David Tan (former UKSB administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun) on Lee’s instructions,” he said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Zander Lim Wai Keong.

Mahendran said Tan’s role in this was to ensure that UKSB had sufficient funds to fulfil Zahid’s request.

Prior to this, Wan Quoris told the court that the financial aid given to Zahid was meant to strengthen the company’s position as a Home Ministry contractor, apart from getting the politician’s support to reduce competition from other companies running similar businesses.

Mahendran also said that based on statements by Lee, Tan and Wan Quoris, the cash donations for Zahid would normally be placed in an envelope.

“The handover of the cash will be made every month according to Zahid’s time, which is normally at 10pm at Seri Satria, Putrajaya, his official residence or at Country Heights,” he said.

Zahid, 69, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM43.8 million) from UKSB for himself as home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of the one-stop service in China and the foreign visa system, as well as to maintain the contract agreement to supply the VLN integrated system to the same company by the Home Ministry.

In another seven counts, he was charged with obtaining for himself S$1.15 million, RM3 million, €15,000 (RM68,282) and US$15,000 (RM66,855) from the same company, which is linked to his official duty.

He was charged with committing all the offences at Seri Satria, Precinct 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights Kajang between October 2014 and March 2018. 

The trial before judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues. – Bernama, August 10, 2022.