.png)
KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is among several politicians who denied receiving political funding from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) following a witness testimony during yesterday’s hearing in the corruption trial involving Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“I did not get the money as accused. If he has proof, show it. Talking is easy. If someone gives me money, show me who gave it, because I never received the money.”
Speaking to reporters at Tg Rhu in Langkawi, Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying by Harian Metro that he is ready any time the authorities want to investigate the matter.
“There have been many allegations against me, that apparently I’m rich and have billions of ringgit kept in Switzerland and Taiwan.
“We had proof that (Datuk Seri) Najib Razak had money because of the cheques he signed and his bank account. Go check my bank account, no issue.”
UKSB is a Malaysian company that has been implicated in Zahid’s trial linked to the award of a foreign visa system (VLN) contract.
Meanwhile, Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan took to Facebook yesterday to issue a denial after he was accused of receiving RM1.162 million from UKSB.
“In fact, I also do not have any knowledge about the ledger that supposedly contains the name ‘S Pat’ or the contents of the ledger.
“I am ready to give my full cooperation to the authorities regarding this matter.”
Former MCA secretary-general Tan Sri Ong Ka Chuan similarly said any allegations in news reports that political donations were given to him were “totally unfounded”.
“I invite the accusing party to put forth all evidence and details regarding the allegations to the public domain and the relevant authorities.
“I am ready and willing to cooperate with the authorities in their investigations should any arise,” he said in a statement yesterday.
During the hearing yesterday, witness and UKSB administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun said that Dr Mahathir and Bersatu – a party he founded – indirectly received RM2.6 million in political funding via his nephew Tan Sri Rahmat Abu Bakar.
Rahmat is referred to as “Kedahan” in the ledger, Tan said, as the entry was shown to the court.
When asked why RM2.6 million was paid to Rahmat, Tan told the court that it was “for Dr Mahathir and Bersatu; I believe it is for a political fund”.
As the defence cross-examination continued, the witness said UKSB gave political contributions amounting to RM1.162 million to Shahril, RM7.85 million to former transport minister Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, and RM922,820 to Ong, who were given the code names “S Pat”, “Prof”, and “OKC” respectively, as written in the ledger book.
Tan also agreed with the defence’s suggestion that Shahril, who is also Umno Youth vice-chief, was also given the political contribution because of his close relations with former UKSB director Wan Quoris Shah Wan Abdul Ghani and Khairy.
Last month, Khairy denied receiving any political funds indirectly from UKSB.
Zahid is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from UKSB as an inducement for himself in his capacity as a civil servant and the then home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of the One-Stop Centre in China and the VLN system as well as to maintain the agreement to supply VLN integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the Home Ministry.
On another seven counts, Zahid was charged as home minister to have obtained for himself S$1,150,000, RM3 million, €15,000 (RM68,180) and US$15,000 (RM66,817) in cash from the same company in connection with his official work.
He is charged with committing all the offences at Seri Satria, Presint 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018.
The hearing before judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues today. – The Vibes, July 26, 2022