‘I FELT PRESSURED BY ROSMAH‘
Mahdzir says he was constantly harassed to expedite awarding solar hybrid project to Jepak Holdings
AFORMER education minister told the High Court yesterday that he felt pressured by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to award a solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak to Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid also explained how he was constantly harassed by the company’s managing director, Saidi Abang Samsudin, and his business partner, Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, to expedite the matter.
As she listened attentively to the witness, Rosmah shook her head.
The then minister said Rosmah had once showed interest in the project.
“This was after breaking fast at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Putrajaya.
“Before leaving his residence, Rosmah told me, ‘please look into Cikgu Aazmey’s solar project. Expedite it’.
“I only replied ‘ya, ya’,” he said. He said what he understood from Rosmah’s message was that she had instructed him to expedite the approval of the project to Jepak Holdings.
He said this had reaffirmed his belief on Rosmah’s involvement in “Saidi’s team” as Saidi had mentioned before.
He said “Cikgu Aazmey” was Datuk Aazmey Abu Talib, who is Pekan Umno division secretary and the Pahang Education Department director.
The 59-year-old witness said Saidi and Rayyan forced him to help, but he avoided them.
“They once told me that Rosmah went mad about the delay of the issuance of the ‘Letter of Award’ to carry out the solar hybrid project to Saidi, or Jepak.”
Mahdzir said Rosmah’s former aide, Datuk Rizal Mansor, had also contacted him asking him to expedite the approval papers for the project.
“I understood that he called on behalf of Rosmah as he used the word ‘Ma’am’,” he said.
Upon hearing this, Rosmah shook her head again.
Earlier, the fourth witness, Shamsul Rizal Sharbini, 42, revealed how he was instructed by his boss to carry two backpacks filled with cash into the residence of the former prime minister’s wife.
Shamsul, who was Saidi’s former personal driver, laid out details on how he was instructed to put bundles of cash in RM100 denominations into the two bags and placed them on a green sofa at the residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, here, sometime in 2017.
Prior to arriving at the residence, he said he drove Saidi to a Maybank branch in KL before he was instructed by Saidi to purchase the backpacks.
“On the upper floor of the bank, Saidi instructed me to put the bundles of cash in RM100 denominations into the two bags.
“I did not count the cash as my job was just to put them inside the bags.”
The witness said when he dropped Saidi off at the house, he saw Rizal waiting at the door.
He said on a previous occasion, he was also instructed to carry two pieces of luggage into a building next to the Pavillion Mall, where Rizal was waiting at the lobby of the building.
“I recognised Rizal because he always appears on television and in the media. He was often criticised by the opposition and I know that he was Rosmah’s and Najib’s aide.”
The trial before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues.
The prosecution team is led by Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram while Rosmah’s team is led by Datuk Jagjit Singh.
Rosmah, is facing three charges of soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving a bribe of 6.5 million from Saidi through her former aide Rizal for projects to provide solar energy to 369 rural schools in Sarawak.