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KUALA LUMPUR – Two former staffers for Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the high court today that the former deputy prime minister often gave donations and alms using his own money and funds from Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB).
One of them, Datuk Mohd Kamal Abdullah, 65, who was Zahid’s special officer, said the Umno president mostly contributed to the construction of mosques, surau, and tahfiz centres, as well as donations for the poor, orphans, and single mothers.
“During the early stage of the establishment of YAB, Zahid would deposit his own money into the foundation as donations for the needy.
“His contributions and donations were not only focused in the Bagan Datuk and Melaka areas but throughout the country and outside Malaysia. The donations were from his own money or through YAB,” he said.
Kamal, who is the sixth defence witness, said this when reading out his witness statement at the 69-year-old Umno leader’s defence trial, where he faces 47 charges, namely 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight charges for corruption, and 27 charges for money laundering, involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.
Kamal said YAB contributed, among others, to the development of SM Imtiaz Ulul Al-Bab in Melaka, as well as RM10 million for the construction of Salmah Khamis Mosque and Tuminah Hamidi Mosque in Bagan Datuk, which is still under construction and expected to be completed this month.
On Yayasan Al-Falah, Kamal told the court that he was informed by Zahid that it was established to manage his late father’s estate for charity.
“The construction of Tuminah Hamidi Mosque is fully sponsored by Yayasan Akalbudi and Yayasan Al-Falah as developers. I know that the date for completion of the project has been delayed due to the freezing of Yayasan Akalbudi’s account by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.
Earlier, Zahid’s former senior private secretary, Sabri Zainudin Zainul, 61, said during his time working with Zahid, many individuals who were at the then deputy prime minister’s office to meet him (Zahid) came to seek financial assistance to continue their studies.
“Normally Datuk Seri Zahid agreed to help and provide cash. There was an occasion when he did not have cash, he called me and asked to give my money first,” he added.
The fifth defence witness said Zahid also made personal contributions to help cover expenses incurred by the Home Ministry for its Family Day.
At one juncture, during cross-examination by the prosecution, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran chided the witness for not giving accurate answers to her questions.
“Do not turn this court into a coffee shop and do not make up stories,” she said.
Raja Rozela had asked Sabri whether he was involved when Zahid instructed his then executive-secretary Major Mazlina Mazlan @ Ramly to use a YAB cheque to pay for the Umno leader’s credit card.
When Sabri did not answer the question accurately, despite being asked repeatedly by Raja Rozela, judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah then suggested that the prosecution rephrase the questions.
The hearing continues tomorrow. – Bernama, November 1, 2022
