KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 24): Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor told the High Court on Friday (Dec 24) that wives of previous prime ministers — including her mother-in-law, the late Tun Rahah Mohd Noah — had used the title of First Lady of Malaysia (FLOM).
Testifying in her graft trial related to the solar hybrid project, Rosmah asserted that during her research, wives of previous premiers had also been referred to as FLOM, and she highlighted several examples of this found in newspaper articles, memorials and publications.
During her re-examination conducted by her counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, Rosmah claimed that in the documents she referred to, Tun Rahah (Tun Abdul Razak Hussein’s wife), Tun Suhaila Mohamed Noah (Tun Hussein Onn’s wife), Tun Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s wife), and Tun Endon Mahmood Ambak (Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s late wife) had all been referred to as FLOMs.
Akberdin had then requested the court’s permission to mark the documents as evidence; however, senior Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram interjected and argued that the validity of the information in the documents was questionable.
“Newspaper reports [are] hearsay and all the others are covered by the same principle,” Sri Ram said.
Justice Mohamad Zaini Mazlan said he would mark the documents only as identified documents much to Akberdin’s protest. Justice Zaini reasoned that the documents had already been read by Rosmah and are already in the evidence.
Previously on Oct 7, during her cross-examination conducted by Sri Ram, the lead prosecutor had posited that the wives of former premiers had never been known as FLOM or had offices to their name, and that Rosmah had assumed the title herself.
Rosmah, in response to Sri Ram’s suggestion, said she did not know whether the wives of previous prime ministers had been referred to as FLOM, and claimed that her husband former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak had given her the title.
Former FLOM officer claims Rosmah not overbearing
Sri Ram, who is also a former Federal Court judge, had also previously asserted that Rosmah, despite not having an official position, wielded considerable influence by reason of her overbearing nature.
The senior DPP in his opening statement of the trial in February last year had asserted that Rosmah placed herself in a position where she was able to influence decisions in the public sector.
However on Friday, the second defence witness, former FLOM officer Datuk Seri Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod, told the court that she disagreed with this view, adding that she had never seen Rosmah deal with civil servants directly.
“I disagree with the perception that Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has a lot of influence over civil servants.
“Throughout my experience working with her, I have never heard her influence the appointment of public office. In fact, [Rosmah] has never directly dealt with any civil servants, as such affairs are managed by me, the divisional director of FLOM,” she said.
The 72-year-old also claimed that Rosmah had never interfered with the work process of FLOM officers.
“In fact, Datin Seri Rosmah does not have the capacity to intervene in terms of execution, as [FLOM officers] are tasked under the Prime Minister's Office,” she said.
However, Siti Azizah’s testimony was cut short as Rosmah’s counsel subsequently notified the court that it would not be possible for Siti Azizah to finish her testimony on Friday and informed that the second defence witness is only able to continue to testify on Feb 5, as she was leaving soon to perform her umrah.
Due to time constraints, Justice Zaini directed Siti Azizah’s witness statement deemed to have been read as he invoked Section 402B of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“I am only taking this consideration in view of the fact that she will only be available on Feb 5, otherwise I do not mind for her to read out the witness statement, which to be honest is my preference,” he said.
Rosmah, who once helmed the FLOM office, is on trial for three charges in relation to a RM1.25 billion project to equip 369 schools in rural Sarawak with solar hybrid power.
The former premier’s wife is facing a charge of allegedly soliciting RM187.5 million and two charges of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd and managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor, for her help to secure the solar hybrid project.
The trial is fixed to continue on Jan 10 next year before Justice Zaini with Najib slated to testify in his wife’s defence.