Shedding light on RM1.25bil project
Case involves RM1.25bil solar hybrid project for rural schools
A total of 369 rural schools in Sarawak held out hope that solar hybrids will brighten up their lives but not one got any. How could it when allegations cropped up that the billion-dollar project was awarded to Jepak Holdings – a company dealing in transportation services. Now, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will have to answer why the poor students were taken for a ride.
JAYA: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will most likely be hauled to court again – this time over a RM1.25bil solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak.
The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to face several charges together with her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor.
A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission source said the duo would be charged by this week.
However, it is unclear what role Rosmah played in the deal or what charges would be brought against her. Those familiar with ongoing investigations are tight-lipped.
On Oct 4, Rosmah was charged with 17 counts of money laundering involving over RM7mil.
The solar hybrid project courted controversy when Sarawak Report alleged in June that the contract was awarded to Bintulu-based company Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd. Jepak Holdings is a transportation services company supposedly on “direct” order of Najib.
Asked if Najib and former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid would also face charges, the source said: “Not yet”.
Mahdzir was grilled for several hours by the MACC last month, also over the same project.
Najib was called in by the commission on Thursday to assist in investigations as a witness for several cases. One is for the solar hybrid project.
Jepak Holdings was appointed at the end of 2016 for the supply of diesel, repair of generators and to provide solar hybrid systems for 369 rural schools in Sarawak. To date, none of the schools has it. Rizal was arrested by the MACC in July following allegations that he solicited money from Jepak Holdings over the project. However, it is believed that the money did not change hands.
In June, the graft busters also arrested a company director, managing director and a lawyer over the controversial project.
The MACC began investigating the billion ringgit project in April, a month before the general election.
Meanwhile, sources also indicated that it would be a busy period for the MACC towards the year end with quite a number of charges to be brought against members of the previous administration.
Among those speculated are former Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who has been questioned 12 times over dubious land deals involving Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
He had said that he had nothing to do with the approval of land deals between DBKL and private developers as he had handed the land back to Putrajaya.
A special task force was set up to probe the 97 transactions worth RM5.63bil, involving 273.27ha of DBKL land.
As of now, 14 deals have been terminated while 15 other deals were renegotiated, resulting in an additional revenue of RM49mil.
Next up is said to be Baling MP and former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.
His is over allegations of bribery and money laundering from government project kickbacks.
A former deputy minister is also expected to be charged over the embezzlement of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission funds meant for the National Film Development Corporation (Finas).
The funds were supposedly for 1Malaysia Negaraku (a symbol of unity launched by Najib in August last year). These projects were never implemented.