‘Firm wouldn’t have given RM6m if Zahid wasn’t DPM’
KUALA LUMPUR: A deputy managing director of Datasonic Group Bhd (DGB) told the High Court yesterday that he would not have recommended giving RM6 million in political funds to Barisan Nasional if Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was not the then deputy prime minister and home minister.
Chew Ben Ben, 63, said he suggested the amount to former DGB chief executive officer Datuk Abu Hanifah Noordin as a long-term contribution to BN.
Chew, who is the 34th prosecution witness, said he met the then deputy prime minister at his official residence in Seri Satria Putrajaya in April 2017, where Zahid told him about his profession before entering politics.
“Zahid told me that he was impressed with DGB because of its performance, and on the political situation then and that the general election was approaching,” he said when reading out his witness statement during examination-inchief by deputy public prosecutor Gan Peng Kun.
Chew was testifying on the 17th day of Zahid’s corruption trial involving millions of ringgit in Yayasan Akalbudi funds and passport chip supply contracts with several companies.
Chew, who is also a member of DGB’s board of directors, said when he met Zahid that day, he told him he was meeting then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to discuss the election.
“What came to my mind then was that BN needed money. I asked Zahid whether Hanifah and I could provide political funds and how much was needed.
“Zahid said it was up to me how much I wanted to give to BN,” he said, adding that Zahid then told him to prepare a cheque for Lewis & Co, the trustee of Yayasan Akalbudi, which Zahid owned.
“I suggested that Hanifah use his own money because withdrawal from DGB’s account would require approval from the board of directors,” Chew said.
When questioned by counsel Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, Chew agreed that the political funds were meant for corporate social responsibility and charity.
The trial is before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.