Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrival corruption trial continues, High Court Jalan Duta. - KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) has denied that two cheques worth RM360,000 issued by his charity foundation Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) for TS Consultancy & Resources were meant to help Umno to register new voters in 2015.
Instead, the Umno president said the money was meant to print copies of the Al-Quran.
Ahmad Zahid testified this during a cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran in his corruption trial involving YAB here on Wednesday (June 29).
To a question by the prosecutor, Ahmad Zahid said he did not know that the company – which provides training centres – was an initiative by Umno.
Raja Rozela: Do you remember a testimony by TS Consultancy chairman, Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, who said that his company was funded by Umno headquarters?
Ahmad Zahid: I don't know.
Ahmad Zahid said Wan Ahmad told him about a mandate to print copies of the Al-Quran that was given to Yayasan Restu, a foundation chaired by Datuk Latiff Mirasa, and that Wan Ahmad was looking for funds for the printing.
"The RM360,000 made by YAB to TS Consultancy was for the payment of Al-Quran printing works," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said printing copies of the holy book was in line with the charity works outlined in YAB's memorandum and articles of association (MAA).
On a RM10mil cheque issued by YAB to Armada Holdings Sdn Bhd, a company that imports and supplies coal, Ahmad Zahid admitted that he signed the cheques.
He said he had a meeting in October 2015 to discuss a coal project with Armada Holdings CEO Datuk Wasi Khan @ Wasiyu Zama Israr and Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, who is the husband of singer Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin.
According to Ahmad Zahid, Wasi from Armada Holdings wanted the company to become the supplier of coal to TNB Fuel Services Sdn Bhd (a TNB subsidiary) while Khalid, or better known as Datuk K, gave a detailed explanation on the charges imposed by TNB to Armada to register as a contractor.
The RM10mil, Ahmad Zahid said, was meant for investment purposes.
Raja Rozela: Did you know that Datuk K had links with Armada Holdings?
Ahmad Zahid: I don't know Wasi, it was Datuk K who knows Wasi. He (Datuk K) is not a shareholder or a director of the company (Armada Holdings).
Ahmad Zahid also said that he could not recall whether Wasi had met up with him to seek help to reduce the amount of paid capital required by TNB, which was RM10mil, so that the company could be registered as a contractor.
To a question whether Armada Holdings had been incorporated or not when the RM10mil cheque was handed over to the company, Ahmad Zahid said it was beyond his knowledge.
Raja Rozela: This means you didn't complete due diligence on the company.
Ahmad Zahid: I agree.
Ahmad Zahid is facing 47 charges – 12 for criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering – involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah tomorrow (June 30).
