KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid told the High Court today that two cheques amounting to RM6 million received from Syarikat Sarana Kencana Sdn Bhd are political contributions when he was the deputy prime minister and were not bribes.
Ahmad Zahid, 69, said allegations that the cheques received via former Datasonic Group Berhad deputy managing director Chew Ben Ben were inducement to appoint Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd (DTSB) to supply passport chip for five years is not true and is slanderous.
"I wish to stress that the decision to appoint DTSB is not by me. I have no authority to make the final decision as it is under the jurisdiction of the Finance Ministry.
"The process carried out by the Finance Ministry, Home Ministry (KDN) and Immigration Department on awarding the polycarbonate contract to DTSB was in order and according to the stipulated procedure. All procedures were conducted appropriately by my officers at KDN and was verified by the Finance Ministry before the contract was awarded to DTSB," he said.
He said this when questioned by his lawyer, Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal while defending himself on 47 charges with 12 of them involving breach of trust, eight charges of corruption and 27 charges of money laundering, involving tens of millions of ringgit in funds belonging to YAB.
Ahmad Zahid said when was holding the post of Home Minister, General (Retire) Tan Sri Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali (former DTSB director) had submitted a letter "Application to Supply Passport chip for five years or 12.5 million chips which would be embedded in the Malaysian passport polycarbonate biodata page to the government via direct negotiation.
"When it involves direct negotiation, it involves directives from the Treasury as well as the internal procurement of the Home Ministry. Furthermore, I stated that the Ministry of Finance determines awarding direct negotiations to any company that has made an application not at the procurement level of the Ministry of Home Affairs," he said.
To Ahmad Zaidi's question on how his client knew Mohamed Hashim, Ahmad Zahid said when he held the position of political secretary to the defence minister knew Mohamed Hashim who was then the army chief.
"He (Mohamed Hashim) later became a director of several listed companies, including a director of DTSB. I have known him for more than 20 years since I was in the Ministry of Defence not because of his involvement in business but as an officer of the Malaysian Armed Forces, "he said.
He said the Sarana Kencana was owned by Mohamed Hashim and Datuk Abu Hanifah Noordin (former managing director of Datasonic Group Berhad).
The Bagan Datuk MP also said Abu Hanifah, who is the 32nd prosecution witness, had stated in court that the cheques were given to him as a political fund which was part of a charity.
"Chew Ben Ben (the 34th prosecution witness) also testified during the re-examination by the prosecution which he stated that based on his understanding, political money is also included as charity.
Based on the 14th and 15th charges, Ahmad Zahid is alleged to have received bribes amounting to RM6 million from Chew as a reward for appointing DTSB to implement a passport chip project for a period of five years or for a total of 12.5 million chips to be included in the polycarbonate biodata page of Malaysia's international passport by the Immigration Department through direct negotiations under the Home Ministry.
The trial is being conducted before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu May 26 2022
Ahmad Zahid said the two cheques received from Syarikat Sarana Kencana Sdn Bhd are political contributions and were not bribes. - BERNAMA
Potensi dilanda tsunami, pihak berkuasa tingkatkan amaran
Pihak berkuasa Indonesia tingkatkan lagi amaran Gunung Ruang di Sulawesi dengan mengeluarkan amaran tsunami susulan berlakunya sekali lagi letusan gunung ruang di wilayah Sulawesi utara pada Rabu.
Houthi tembak Kapal Tangki Minyak Andromeda Star di Laut Merah
Kumpulan Houthi terus melancarkan serangan ke atas kapal komersial di Laut Merah dan terbaharu serangan peluru berpandu mengenai kapal tangki minyak Andromeda Star.
Ratusan rumah, bangunan rosak dibadai puting beliung
Ratusan rumah, bangunan dan ladang ternakan di Omaha, Nebraska rosak akibat kejadian Puting beliung yang membadai kawasan itu pada petang Jumaat.
Hamas sudah terima maklum balas Israel mengenai cadangan gencatan senjata
Rundingan sebelum ini pada November lepas menyaksikan pembebasan 81 rakyat Israel dan 24 warga asing dengan pertukaran 240 warga Palestin termasuk 71 wanita dan 169 kanak-kanak.
95 kanak-kanak mangsa diselamatkan di India
Seramai 95 kanak-kanak berumur empat hingga 12 tahun diselamatkan di Uttar Pradesh di utara India, dipercayai mangsa pemerdagangan manusia dari negeri jiran, Bihar.
Pesara tentera diminta kemaskini data di JHEV
Jelas Adly setakat ini lebih 213 ribu veteran berdaftar dengan jabatan tersebut, berbanding sekitar 300,000 yang telah bersara dalam perkhidmatan.
10 Berita Pilihan - (27 April 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Tumpuan Ahad - 28 April 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
AWANI Ringkas: UM mohon maaf kepada rakyat Malaysia
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Jangan sentuh isu 3R sepanjang kempen PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) diminta untuk meningkatkan pemantauan bagi mengesan sebarang hantaran yang menyalahi undang-undang.
T20 guna petrol RON95 purata RM399 sebulan - Ahmad Zahid
T20 purata guna RM399 sebulan bagi petrol RON95 - Ahmad Zahid
UMNO pertimbang tarik diri daripada menyokong PN
Hubungan tegang UMNO dalam Perikatan Nasional (PN) dilihat semakin tegang apabila UMNO mengumumkan untuk mempertimbangkan untuk menarik diri daripada gabungan itu.
Sabah Memilih: BN akan runding agih kerusi bersama gabungan
Rundingan mengenai pengagihan kerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) dan parti gabungan bagi menghadapi Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) Sabah akan dimuktamadkan selewat-lewatnya seminggu sebelum hari penamaan calon.
Kami alu-alukan bertanding di Bagan Datuk dan Pekan - TPM Zahid
Ahmad Zahid mengulas berhubung cadangan bagi Ahli Parlimen Gombak, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali mengenai lokasi bertanding PRU14 akan datang.
Kerajaan tangguh pelaksanaan PLKS, guna pakai sistem lama - TPM Zahid
Nelayan yang menggunakan khidmat pekerja asing itu akan terus menggunakan sistem lama atau Pas Pelaut yang hanya perlu disahkan Jabatan Perikanan selain negara asal nelayan asing berkenaan.
Tajol Rosli beri saya 'nyawa' dalam politik - TPM Zahid
Beliau berkata selepas ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) pada 1998, dirinya dianggap seperti 'kiambang' dan 'dibenci' beberapa pemimpin UMNO.
Malaysia mahu lebih banyak langkah konkrit untuk realisasikan RCEP
Ia menawarkan peluang luas dan pelbagai kemungkinan bagi Asia dan Eropah untuk membawa kerjasama dan perkongsian ekonomi ke tahap lebih tinggi.
Semoga taubat Nizar Jamaluddin diterima Allah - Zahid Hamidi
Bagaimanapun, Ahmad Zahid mengucapkan terima kasih di atas kecaman Mohammad Nizar tersebut dan pada masa sama berharap semoga taubat beliau diterima Tuhan.
PM Malaysia dipilih melalui perundangan dan demokrasi - Ahmad Zahid
Beliau berkata kaedah lain itu tidak mengikuti tata etika sebagaimana termaktub dalam perlembagaan dan perundangan negara.
Isu pekerja asing: Jangan cari publisiti murahan desak Ahmad Zahid 'resign' - Armand
Presiden Ikhlas dinasihat tidak mencari publisiti murahan apabila meminta Ahmad Zahid meletakkan jawapan dalam isu kemasukan pekerja Bangladesh ke negara ini.