Rosmah's trial: My officers were threatened, says former Education sec-gen

KUALA LUMPUR: The former Education Ministry secretary-general says she entertained the company embroiled in a corruption trial because her officers had been threatened.

Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad told the High Court here she entertained Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah's queries on the status of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd's solar hybrid project proposal because he was threatening her officers in the Ministry.

She said this on Wednesday (Feb 19) under cross-examination by defence counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, who asked her why she responded to his (Rayyan's) queries.

Akberdin told Madinah, who was the sixth prosecution witness in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's graft trial, that Rayyan was just a “runner” for Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

Akberdin: Why did you entertain (layan) people like that? He was just a runner who dropped the names of the (then) prime minister, his wife, and (Finance Ministry (Treasury) deputy secretary-general) Datuk Othman Semail.

Madinah: When I was secretary-general, I received complaints from my officers that a person named “Rayyan” was harassing those who were in the ministry's procurement division. He said that he would lodge a complaint with the prime minister and demanded to see the secretary-general.

So my officers told me to see him as they couldn’t stand the threats and insults anymore.

Madinah told the court that this was why she had a meeting with Rayyan.

When asked by Akberdin why she was also communicating with Rayyan through WhatsApp regarding Jepak Holdings' solar hyrbrid project proposal, she said that Rayyan was polite to her during their meeting and did not use threats on her as he had done with her officers.

“When he met me, he was respectful, ” she said, adding that at the time the WhatsApp messages were exchanged, she was also under the impression that Rayyan was working together with Rosmah's former aide, Datuk Rizal Mansor.

Madinah later, however, agreed with Akberdin's suggestion that it was not her responsibility to liase with Rayyan.

Akberdin: I put it to you that it is not your responsibility to entertain Rayyan's request.

Madinah: I agree.

Madinah also agreed with the defence's suggestion that she had never checked with Rosmah whether Rizal was her indeed “special officer”.

“Shouldn't you have verified with Rosmah that Rizal was her special officer? Wouldn't this be the best course of action?" said Akberdin, to which Madinah answered in the affirmative.

Madinah, during the cross-examination by Akberdin, also gave complimented Rosmah's work with the Permata programme, which was her brainchild while Najib was prime minister.

“She wanted to give the best for Malaysia and its children. She gave a lot of time and attention to the programme – and there were many successes for underprivileged children due to the programme and her caring nature, ” said Madinah.

The court had earlier heard that Madinah had travelled with Rosmah in her capacity as Education Ministry secretary-general and had even confided in Rosmah when she was faced with personal issues.

The trial continues before High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan on Thursday (Feb 20).