Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that a donation of RM13.25 million from a businessperson, Junaith Asharab Md Shariff, was meant for Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB)’s welfare activities.
Zahid, 69, said the donation was not for his personal benefit.
“Your Honour, the donation was not for me personally, it was for charity. I don’t feel anything and that’s normal,” said the Bagan Datuk MP when cross-examined by deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Mohd 'Afif Ali.
Umno president Zahid (above) previously said he founded the Akalbudi foundation in 1997 for the sake of charity and religion.
He was defending himself yesterday on 47 charges - 12 criminal breaches of trust, eight corruption, and 27 money laundering charges, involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.
'Afif: Datuk Seri not 'happy' when people gave donations to Datuk Seri?
Zahid: It was not for me, I didn't need to be 'happy'; just said ‘thank you’. I didn’t feel anything, it’s not for me; if it's for me I would be happy.
However, Zahid said he did not question the source of the donation.
When asked by Mohd 'Afif if textile wholesaler Junaith asked him to get a tax exemption, Zahid said he did not remember.
'Afif: Throughout the trial of this case there was no document showing the tax exemption, or even information related to Junaith's contribution to YAB, was ever presented in court.
Zahid: Agree.
'Afif: I suggest that Junaith once asked Datuk Seri that he asked for a receipt to get a tax exemption.
Zahid: I don't remember.
Touching on YAB funds amounting to RM1.3 million given to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Football Association in 2015, Zahid said the funds were in the form of loans and not sponsorships.
He said the funds were requested by his son-in-law, Zul Hisham Zainal, who is also a businessperson, as financial assistance to the players and staff of the football association who had not been paid for four months.
Zahid agreed with DPP Nur Aishah Ahmad Zakiuddin's suggestion that he was the one who instructed his former executive secretary, Major Mazlina Mazlan @ Ramly, to provide the RM1.3 million cheque to the football association, and had signed the cheque.
Asked by Nur Aishah whether YAB, which is meant for charity, can provide funds to the football association, Zahid explained that if they did not receive their salary for four months, they would become poor because they were unable to cover their daily expenses, house, and car instalments.
Zahid also denied the RM1.3 million given to the football association was a criminal breach of trust because the money had been paid back to YAB.
Meanwhile, Zahid disagreed with the prosecution's suggestion that he often blamed others while testifying in court.
“I'm not blaming others, it's the truth and that's what really happened. My statement is based on the oath I read (in court)," he said.
In today's proceedings, lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, who represents Zahid, said the defence will call 43 witnesses.
Zahid's defence team previously informed the court that it would call 20 witnesses.
On Jan 24, the court ordered Zahid to enter his defence on the 47 charges.
The trial, before Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, continues on Monday (Aug 29).
- Bernama
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