KUALA LUMPUR: The RM10mil fund given by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi through the Akalbudi Foundation (YAB) to Armada Holdings Sdn Bhd to bid for a tender to supply coal to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) was for investment purposes, the High Court heard.Businessman Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, better known as Datuk K, 64, said the RM10mil had been returned to the foundation, with interest amounting to RM69,722.65.
He disagreed with a suggestion by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar that the funds were given as loans.
Questioned if it ever crossed his mind how Ahmad Zahid could have RM10mil, Khalid, who has known the Deputy Prime Minister for almost 30 years since working as a manager of the loan department at Bumiputra Bank (now CIMB), said the former was a corporate figure, an entrepreneur and a former banker with various financial resources.
“I’ve known Datuk Seri Zahid for a long time and am familiar with his nature and character. Among the qualities that I know of is that he is generous (and) likes to help people who need help,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Khalid, who is the eighth defence witness, was testifying during Ahmad Zahid’s hearing on 12 charges of breach of trust, eight charges of corruption and 27 charges of money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit in YAB funds.
Reading out his witness statement, Khalid said he was close to Ahmad Zahid and that he and his wife Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin had also been to Mecca several times with the Deputy Prime Minister and his wife Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis to perform umrah.
On the RM10mil from YAB to Armada Holdings, Khalid said it began in 2015 when he met a friend, Datuk Wasi Khan @ Wasiyu Zama Israr, who is the 21st prosecution witness.
“Wasi Khan told me that he intended to set up a coal-supplying company in Indonesia and needed a paid-up capital of RM10mil to meet the minimum requirements to be registered as a supplier or contractor under TNB.
“Datuk Wasi Khan knew that I was a close acquaintance of Datuk Seri Zahid and asked for my help to arrange a meeting for him.
“I agreed and arranged a meeting for the two of us with Datuk Seri Zahid at his office at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya,” he said.
Khalid said Wasi Khan informed Ahmad Zahid of his intention during the meeting and requested Zahid’s intervention in asking TNB to reduce the amount of paid-up capital to RM5mil.
“However, Datuk Seri Zahid said he could not as the matter was not within his jurisdiction and that it would be an offence for him to interfere in the affairs and policies set by TNB,” he added.
Khalid said the meeting ended with Ahmad Zahid agreeing to provide the RM10mil and after receiving the funds, Wasi Khan set up Armada Holdings Sdn Bhd.
He told the court that, to his understanding, the RM10mil given by Ahmad Zahid to Wasi Khan was an investment.
“I also know that Datuk Seri Zahid is a former banker, and he has knowledge about this matter. The RM10mil was intended solely to allow Armada Holdings to bid on the tender as a coal supplier to TNB,” he said.
The hearing before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.
