KUALA LUMPUR: Former minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today denied forging a receipt purportedly recording a RM2 million political donation to Umno from businessman Chai Kin Kong.
“I never forged anything,” he said when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim on the authenticity of the receipt in his RM2 million corruption trial at the High Court here.
However, he affirmed that receipts would be issued to those who donate or contribute to Umno.
The matter was brought up by Chai during the prosecution’s case last year in which the businessman produced the alleged receipt as part of his testimony.
Julia said it was “abnormal” for the receipt, dated June 14, 2016, to be issued as the previous receipt was issued on Aug 24, 2017 and the subsequent one was issued on Oct 16, 2018.
“You can agree or otherwise,” she said, to which Tengku Adnan said he disagreed.
“This book, we could chuck it everywhere,” he said, referring to the receipt book.
He also told the court that as Federal Territories Umno chief at the time, he had never asked the president for money.
“I stand on my own,” he added. “Sometimes I used my own money, sometimes I asked from friends. It was all meant for political funding.”
Julia then asked if he had a good relationship with his party leaders as they did not need to finance him.
“Why do I need to be in their good books?” he replied. “I joined politics because I wanted to serve the people.”
He disagreed with Julia’s line of questioning which he said painted him as someone who took money for corrupt purposes.
“RM2 million could be pocket money,” he added.
To this, Julia said: “Maybe RM2 million is something valuable for others.”
Tengku Adnan also disagreed that he needed to declare the RM2 million to former prime minister Najib Razak as required under the code of ethics for members of the administration.
“It was not a gift for me or anyone,” he said. “It was a political donation. Why should I report to the prime minister?”
The hearing continues before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
Tengku Adnan, commonly known as Ku Nan, was accused of receiving RM2 million from Chai despite knowing that Chai’s companies had dealings with the federal territories ministry which was under him at the time.
In his defence, he said that he had not benefited from the RM2 million, which was paid to his company, Tadmansori Holdings Sdn Bhd, in 2016 as the money was meant as a “political donation” for the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections. - FMT
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