KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): Former Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad, who is facing graft charges involving the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak by Felda's unit, said today that his former political aide turned prosecution witness Muhammad Zahid Md Arip cannot be trusted as the latter likes to jump from one party to another.

Isa, 70, said Zahid was with Umno and later joined PKR, but then the latter attacked its president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and formed a group called Tibai. Tibai is the acronym for Tolak Individu bernama Anwar Ibrahim (Reject the individual named Anwar Ibrahim).

Subsequently, Zahid rejoined Umno with former PKR youth chief Senator Mohd Ezam Md Noor, Isa recounted.

"He was hoping to be close to Datuk Seri Najib Razak with the aspiration of being appointed as a political secretary but was not successful. Hence, he joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took him as his political secretary. Then, look what happened," Isa said.

Isa was referring to Dr Mahathir blaming Zahid as one of those responsible for the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government.

"Now, he is on (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin's side. So Zahid is like this, jumping from one party or side to another and cannot be trusted. I am not the only one saying this but Mahathir says so too," he said.

Isa was testifying during re-examination by his counsel Datuk Salehuddin Saidin after being ordered by the High Court to enter his defence on nine counts of graft in relation to receiving a total of RM3.09 million from Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd director Ikhwan Zaidel, which was allegedly handed to him through Zahid, to approve the purchase of the Merdeka Palace Hotel Suites in Kuching, Sarawak, in 2014, by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd.

He was charged under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the amount of bribes received — whichever is higher — upon conviction.

Isa, who is also a former Umno vice-president, has, however, been acquitted by Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali of a criminal breach of trust charge in relation to the hotel's purchase.

During cross-examination earlier by the prosecution that was led by DPP Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, Isa initially agreed with the prosecution's suggestion that he had described Zahid as liking to switch allegiance in a bid to smear the reputation of the former aide. He also admitted to being angry with Zahid for testifying against him in the trial.

However, when he was asked the same questions to reaffirm his answers, the former Felda chairman changed his stance and disagreed with the prosecution's suggestions.

Isa then reiterated that Zahid had promised him he would go to the MACC to change his statement, which had incriminated Isa in dealings related to the hotel buy. Isa said Zahid told him he made the statement because he was scared as he had slept in a cell in the MACC headquarters that was supposed to be 'haunted'.

Afzainizam said Isa had the chance to correct this with the MACC when he was called in by them after meeting with Zahid, but the former Felda chairman said he did not know MACC's procedure for that.

The former senior executive in Felda further said there was no way that the money could be delivered by Zahid to his office as he does not have a safe to keep the huge amount of money, and that the drawers in his office were not locked.

Meanwhile, Isa's former secretary Zuraida Ariffin @ Shaari, 48, told the court that she never saw Zahid carrying any big paper envelope into Isa's office when she was working there. However, Zuraida admitted that Zahid could gain easy access to Isa's office as he was his aide.

"Zahid also had an office on the 49th floor of Menara Felda where Tan Sri Isa's office was also located. He also used the VIP elevator that was used by Isa," said Zuraida, who was the second witness called by the defence.

The hearing continues on Sept 3 before Justice Nazlan.