I didn't meet with Najib due to hierarchical norms, says ex-Education sec-gen in Rosmah's trial

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad did not meet the then former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak directly despite having reservations about the solar hybrid project as she had to follow hierarchical norms, the High Court heard on Wednesday (Feb 19).

The former Education Ministry secretary-general, during re-examination by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, said that there is an established hierarchy in all ministries, including the Education Ministry that prevented her from overstepping her boundaries.

Madinah: In the running of the Education Ministry, like all other ministries, there is an established hierarchy where the secretary-general reports to the minister-in-charge for any directive received from the minister on any communication, for example, this project, on the issues or the viability of this project which is communicated by myself to the minister.

I have sought the minister’s good office to inform the prime minister on several matters such as the lack of funds to implement this project that was never in the planning of the ministry and that we needed more time to be able to scrutinise the proposal, and ask specific information from Jepak (Jepak Holdings Sdb Bhd) for due diligence such as the breakdown of financial requirements, scope of project, consultants they would hire to oversee the project and other related matters that I believed were information that were required by the Finance Ministry before this project can be approved. I informed the Education Ministry several times of these requirements and it was not for me to overstep my boundaries to go straight to the prime minister.

Sri Ram: How long have you been in the civil service?

Madinah: More than 36 years.

Sri Ram: Can I confirm the chain of commands are unbroken (since the beginning of her service)

Madinah: Yes, I can confirm that.

Earlier, during cross-examination by defence counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader during Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial, Madinah said that there was no written evidence that she had made an attempt to notify Najib of her reservations surrounding the solar hybrid project.

To this, Madinah agreed, but disagreed that it meant that she made no effort to tell Najib.

Madinah said she had tried to take the initiative to inform Najib in which she had notified the-then education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

“We have a hierarchy after I notified the minister of the issues, he will deliver it. It is not my position to talk about this and to meet with the prime minister, ” she said.