News by Hafiz Yatim

The ministry's deputy secretary-general (management) Datuk Othman Semail said he had advised the former premier against the project as he had doubts over the ability of Jepak — a transport and car rental firm — to undertake the RM1.25 billion project.

Madinah said this in reply to a question during re-examination by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram in Rosmah’s graft trial at the High Court.

Its lawyer Datuk Kamarul Hisham Kamarudin said the notice only allows third parties to challenge the forfeiture, not OBYU.

Counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader told Madinah that she appeared to believe that the solar hybrid gensets proposed by Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd were not suitable as some of the schools are located in areas covered by deep forests where sunlight may be blocked.

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.

"This project was given through direct negotiations and needed to be processed by the Government Procurement Division of the Finance Ministry."

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The items were seized by the police after the 14th General Election, when Najib's coalition Barisan Nasional lost.

Abu Haniffah, who was also previously Datasonic’s chief executive officer, said he had met Ahmad Zahid several times in his dealing with the Ministry.

Deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffrey Ong told High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan today that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) had only informed them yesterday that the inspection can only be done on weekends and not weekdays.