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KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 18): Former education secretary-general Tan Sri Madinah Mohamad agrees that she should have rejected the proposal made by Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd for a solar hybrid project involving 369 schools in Sarawak back in 2016.
However, she did not express her reservations despite her ministry being instructed by the former prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, to implement the project speedily.
Madinah is the sixth witness in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s graft trial, which has entered its eight day.
The witness was cross-examined by defence lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader over her inaction in bringing up her concerns regarding the proposed RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project to her ministry.
Akberdin asked Madinah why she still acted on former premier Najib’s instruction to implement the project expediently despite having reservations about how the process was hurried.
Najib as prime minister had minuted a memo twice to the Education Ministry, in December 2015 and June 2016, which approved and ordered the implementation of Jepak’s solar hybrid project immediately.
The witness said there was no careful consideration of the project, which the ministry could not afford, while Jepak had also failed to furnish the ministry with a detailed plan for its implementation.
Madinah agreed that she may not have acted fairly in taking Najib’s agreement for the project at face value, given that she did not write to the prime minister to explain why the project should be rejected.
During cross-examination, the lawyer referred to a set of guidelines set out by the ministry when negotiating the price for a direct project award.
Akberdin: Do you agree with me that even though PM (prime minister) has made this instruction to education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, it could not be implemented if it did not follow the garis panduan (guidelines). You still have the power not to follow right?
Madinah: Yes.
Akberdin: You said you disapproved of the plan as there would be complications to your ministry if it did not follow the rules. So why did you not follow up?
Madinah: I did not manage to follow up.
Akberdin: What did the minutes written by Najib say? “Sila laksanakan" (please execute). These are terms typically written on a memo, right? But you have the power to ignore, no? If it does not comply with the rules.
You should have advised Mahdzir to reject the proposal by Jepak?
Madinah: Agreed.
Rosmah is facing charges of soliciting RM187.5 million from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin between January and April 2016, and allegedly receiving RM5 million and RM1.5 million in 2016 and 2017.
The trial continues before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
