SHAH ALAM: Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin received RM1.3 million in political contributions from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd in 2018, the High Court here heard today.
Former Ultra Kirana administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun, 47, said Muhyiddin, who was also the then home minister, received RM300,000 once and RM500,000 twice on June 4, July 4 and Aug 23, respectively.
He said he gave Muhyiddin the code name "TSM" and "Team Pagoh" following a project in the latter's constituency in the company's infamous ledger book dubbed "Buku 555", which contained a list of people who received money from Ultra Kirana.
"I can confirm that the payment was made in relation to the foreign visa system programme as Muhyiddin was the home minister at the time," he said.
He said this when testifying as the 17th prosecution witness in Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's corruption trial involving the foreign visa system programme.
Tan said the company also made contributions to several ministers, such as Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.
"Khairy received RM3.7 million from us, while Reezal received between RM200,000 and RM300,000."
He agreed with the suggestion by Zahid's lawyer, Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, that the payment was a political donation.
Zaidi: Most of the payments were political donations?
Tan: That is correct.
Zaidi: Of course to Datuk Seri Zahid is political donation?
Tan: That is correct.
However, Tan disagreed with the suggestion of another of Zahid's lawyer, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, that he and another two Ultra Kirana directors were working in cahoots to conspire and commit offences.
Zahid, 69, who is Bagan Datuk member of parliament, has pleaded not guilty to 33 charges of receiving S$13.46 million from Ultra Kirana as inducement to extend the company's contract as the operator of a one-stop centre in China and the foreign visa system, as well as to maintain the agreement to supply a foreign visa integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the Home Ministry.
He is also facing another seven charges of accepting SG$1,150,000, RM3,000,000, €15,000 and US$15,000 in cash from the same company, which he knew had connections with his function as then home minister.
The trial before judge Datuk Mohd Yazid Mustafa continues on July 25.