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KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Rahmat Abu Bakar issued a strong denial after a witness told the court two days ago that he received RM2.6 million from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) on behalf of uncle Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Bersatu.
“I would like to state that the statement issued by former UKSB administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun in court is malicious, slanderous, and fake, purportedly that I was representing Dr Mahathir and RM2.6 million was meant for him.
“This money was not even given to me,” he said in a statement today.
Rahmat added that Dr Mahathir was not involved in any manner, nor did he even know of the former’s ties with UKSB.
On Monday, UKSB administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun told the high court here that Dr Mahathir and Bersatu – a party he founded – indirectly received RM2.6 million in political funding via his nephew Rahmat.
Rahmat today said on July 13, 2018, he was appointed as UKSB chairman and adviser, and offered to take over 50% of the company’s shares.
He also revealed that he was promised a RM1.3 million monthly remuneration in his official role and received this in cash.
But this amount was later returned to UKSB as Rahmat was unsure of the source of the funds. He also resigned from both posts on November 14, 2018.
“This was confirmed by Datuk Fadzil Ahmad, the UKSB director, in a letter to me. I had taken the action to resign following advice from Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed who at the time was the director-general at the National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption.
“I adhered to the advice that UKSB is a troubled company. Being involved with UKSB is more trouble than it’s worth.”
Rahmat said all of his actions are backed up by proper documentation instead of Tan's testimony that is based on a single company ledger.
“If Tan does not retract this false allegation, then I will take appropriate action.”
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir denied receiving political funding from UKSB after Tan’s testimony.
“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.”
UKSB is a Malaysian company that has been implicated in Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s trial linked to the award of the Foreign Visa System (VLN) contract.
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 Vibes, July 27, 2022