KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 24): Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has testified that she would not need to resort to using an aide to collect a bribe in relation to a development project as her husband was the prime minister at the time.
Vehemently denying asking her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor to negotiate a cut for a solar hybrid project on her behalf, she said: “If I wanted to, why did I have to go through Rizal? I have a husband who sleeps with me — I cannot tell him to do it?
“Of course, whether he agrees to do it or not, that's up to him,” the wife of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court on Friday (Dec 24).
Rosmah also said that Najib had cautioned her against meeting contractors who may have approached her to get access to him in order to get projects.
“He (Najib) is quite soft-spoken. He does not shout at me and he talks nicely to me,” she said, alluding to the stern warning by her husband.
Rosmah said she told contractors who approached her to discuss directly with Najib.
“I have no authority to say anything as I do not want to create friction with my husband as we have been married for 35 years. He won't tolerate any nonsense, not even from children. I understand very well and never crossed his path,” she said.
Rosmah, 70, is charged with seeking a RM187.5 million bribe from former Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin — through Rizal — as an inducement to secure for the company a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak from the Ministry of Education (MoE).
She is also alleged to have received RM6.5 million from Saidi at the former prime minister’s official residence in Seri Perdana and her private residence in Jalan Langgak Duta between December 2016 and September 2017.
Responding to a question by her counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, Rosmah accused Rizal, former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, and former MoE secretaries-general Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad and Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad of implicating her to hide their own deficiencies and to avoid action from being taken against them.
She noted that Rizal in particular was initially charged with her for graft but became a crown witness after being given a discharge and acquittal.
She said it was hard for her to stomach this as Rizal had spent more time with Saidi whereas she only met the former Jepak managing director for less than five minutes.
‘Rizal abused my name’
Rosmah also testified that Rizal had abused her name to seek perks, noting that he had admitted in court that he received a bribe of RM500,000 from Saidi and payment for an umrah trip for his family.
“I should not have been charged as I was not involved in graft but in turn, Rizal got away. It is difficult for me to see this happening in front of me while I am in court."
Rosmah also said that Rizal was incompetent and could not write a proper speech. She also denied the suggestion that she had recommended a "datukship" for him.
Rosmah also testified that Rizal used her name in his bid to contest for the Umno Youth chief post behind her back.
“I have to tell the court this as this is how Rizal is. My husband Najib scolded me as Rizal claimed that he got my support to contest the post. I told my husband that I did not know [about this].
“The notion of Rizal wanting to contest also angered [then Umno Youth chief] Khairy Jamaluddin.
“When I met Rizal, I told him frankly that he should not have used my name as he should resign from the government post if he wants to contest for the Umno Youth chief post,” Rosmah said.
On Mahdzir, Rosmah said the former education minister was willing to testify against her to hide his shortcomings, including the fact that he was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and responsible for removing Clause 11 in the ministry's agreement with Jepak.
“He abused his power as the company was lifted of any burden. Should they not complete the project, the company would not be penalised.
“In addition, Mahdzir had a special representative and outsider who attended the ministry’s meetings. Why should someone who was not from the government be allowed to attend the meetings? This was totally wrong.” said the former premier's wife.
She also told the court that Mahdzir has a Sarawakian wife and suggested that for this reason, he was close to Saidi.
Turning her sights on Madinah, Rosmah said she gave the offer letter to Jepak a day before she was scheduled to retire.
“The court has also heard evidence that Madinah spoke to Saidi's former partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah for 45 minutes when she was in London. Why would an MoE secretary-general speak to a contractor for so long when she was overseas?” Rosmah asked.
As for Madinah's successor Alias, Rosmah claimed that he had violated the procedures and the law in giving the contract to Jepak.
She also blamed Alias for the exclusion of Clause 11 in the agreement with Jepak that absolved the company of any liability if the project was not carried out.
In the prosecution stage, Mahdzir, Madinah and Alias testified that Rosmah had met them personally and asked them to expedite the Jepak project.
The hearing before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues on Jan 10, with Najib expected to take the witness stand.