TWO senior officers who used to work for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that the former deputy prime minister often gave donations and alms using his own money and funds from Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB). 

One of them, Mohd Kamal Abdullah, 65, who was Zahid’s special officer, said Zahid mostly contributed to the construction of mosques, surau, and tahfiz centres, as well as donations for the poor, orphans, and single mothers.

“During the early stage of the establishment of YAB, Zahid himself would deposit his own money into the foundation as donations for the needy. 

“His contributions and donations were not only focused in the Bagan Datuk and Malacca areas, but throughout the country and outside Malaysia. The donations were his own money or through YAB,” he said. 

Kamal, who is sixth defence witness, said this when reading out his witness statement at the defence trial of Zahid, 69, who is faced with 47 charges – 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption, and 27 charges of money laundering – involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.

Kamal said YAB contributed, among others, to the development of Imtiaz Ulul Al-Bab Secondary School in Malacca, as well as RM10 million for the construction of Salmah Khamis Mosque and Tuminah Hamidi Mosque in Bagan Datuk. 

On Yayasan Al-Falah, Kamal told the court he was informed by Zahid that it was established to manage his late father’s estate for charity.

“The construction of Tuminah Hamidi Mosque was fully sponsored by Yayasan Akalbudi and Yayasan Al-Falah as developers. I know the date for completion of the project has been delayed due to the freezing of Yayasan Akalbudi’s accounts by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said. 

Earlier, Zahid’s former senior private secretary, Sabri Zainudin Zainul, 61, said during his time working with Zahid, many individuals visited the deputy prime minister’s office to get financial assistance to continue their studies. 

“Normally, Datuk Seri Zahid agreed to help and provide cash. There was an occasion when he did not have cash, he called me and asked to give my money first,” he added.

The fifth defence witness said Zahid also made personal contributions to help cover expenses incurred by the Home Ministry for its Family Day.

At one juncture, during cross-examination by the prosecution, deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran chided the witness for not giving accurate answers to her questions.

“Do not turn this court into a ‘coffee shop’ and do not make up stories,” she said.

Raja Rozela had asked Sabri whether he was involved when Zahid instructed his then executive secretary Major Mazlina Mazlan @ Ramly to use YAB’s cheque to pay his (Zahid’s) credit card.

When Sabri did not answer the question accurately, despite being asked repeatedly by Raja Rozela, judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah then suggested the prosecution rephrase the questions.

The hearing continues tomorrow. – Bernama, November 1, 2022.