Dr M’s nephew: I’ve cut ties with UKSB, returned money

Rahmat Abu Bakar has denied allegations that he acted as an intermediary for Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd’s (UKSB) supposed political donation to his uncle, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Instead, he said he has cut ties with UKSB after realising the company was problematic and has returned the money he received as its chairperson and advisor.

He said this after former UKSB administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun testified in court that the company paid RM2.6 million to Mahathir (above) and Bersatu through Mahathir’s nephew Rahmat.

However, Rahmat said Tan’s claim was “false, defamatory, and malicious”, and he never received that much money from UKSB.

In a statement today, he said he was appointed as UKSB’s chairperson and advisor on July 13, 2018. In that capacity, he was promised RM1.3 million per month and was offered a 50 percent stake in the company.

“That was the sum I have received in cash. Then, I returned the money to UKSB because I have misgivings about its basis,” he said.

He said the resigned from his UKSB posts on Nov 14, 2018, upon advice from Abu Kassim Mohamed who was then the director-general of the National Centre for Governance, Integrity, and Anti-Corruption.

“I followed the advice based on information that UKSB is a problematic company. Being linked to UKSB would be detrimental. I have also dropped the idea of taking any interest in the company.

“All my actions are recorded in correspondence between me and relevant parties. This is in contrast with Tan’s statement based on a ledger that is part of UKSB’s management record and is not backed by letters and documentation.

“Therefore, I wish to reemphasise that the statement relating to a RM2.6 million political contribution is false, defamatory, and malicious.

“Mahathir is not involved and was unaware of my ties with UKSB. If Tan does not retract his false allegation, I will take the appropriate action,” he said, without specifying the action he plans to take.

Tan was testifying in Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial related to the Foreign Visa System when he revealed the political donation UKSB allegedly channelled to Mahathir via Rahmat.

According to Tan, Rahmat was codenamed “Kedahan” in the UKSB secret ledger, but he added he did not personally see the money being handed to Rahmat.

Mahathir has also denied the allegations, saying he did not receive any money and that the accuser should show proof to back his claims. - Mkini