Defence alleges Madinah made contradictory statements in Rosmah's corruption trial

Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's defence team alleges that former education ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad's testimony is self-contradictory, the High Court heard.

Defence counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, during his cross examination of Madinah on Tuesday (Feb 18), said that she had contradicted herself through her written statement and her earlier actions.

Madinah is the sixth prosecution witness in Rosmah's corruption trial.

Akberdin said that Madinah had in her written statement said that the diesel genset system was effective in providing electricity to the 369 rural schools in Sarawak that was earmarked for the solar hybrid project.

However, he said Madinah had on June 16,2016, written a letter addressed to then-education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid saying that the solar hybrid system was a better alternative to the diesel genset system.

Akberdin: Do you agree that today you said that the diesel genset is a better system but before you supported the solar hybrid system? Isn't that a contradiction?

Madinah: I disagree.

Akberdin: I am showing you that there is a contradiction. Before you supported solar hybrid system and now you support diesel genset.

"Based on that point there seems to be a contradiction," Madinah said before her explanation was cut off by Akberdin.

The court also heard that Madinah signed the Letter of Award (LOA) request letter on the last day of her service at the Education Ministry.

The defence team also alleged that Madinah failed to fulfil her duties as secretary-general by not performing due diligence on Jepak Holdings' application, a claim that she denied.

Akberdin said that Madinah did not brief former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is Rosmah's husband, on the feasibility of the solar hybrid project, despite claiming in her witness statement that she did not see any tangible or intangible benefits of the project.

Akberdin: As an officer with the Education Ministry, did you take the initiative to write directly to the prime minister and explain to him that the project is not viable?

Madinah: No.

Madinah said that she instead told Najib verbally during a meeting at Parliament that the Education Ministry lacked the allocation to implement the project.

Akberdin accused Madinah of trying to pin the blame on Najib to mask her own shortcomings in performing her duties.

"You pin everything on the prime minister. When you are pushed into a corner, you find a scapegoat and push the blame on others," he said, to which she disagreed.

The trial continues before High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan on Wednesday (Feb 19).