KUALA LUMPUR: Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's former private secretary told the High Court today that she does not mind if the Muar member of Parliament is found guilty of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of assets and money laundering, and jailed.
Siti Nurul Hidayah, 27, Syed Saddiq's fourth witness, who was cross-examined by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Asyraf Mohamed Tahir, also denied Asyraf's suggestion that she became a defence witness to ensure that Syed Saddiq did not go to jail.
Syed Saddiq, the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president, is defending himself against four charges.
"Actually, I don't mind if Syed Saddiq goes to jail, as long as it is not me," she said.
Siti Nurul Hidayah agreed with the suggestion that she was chosen to join Team Saddiq, which was tasked with raising Syed Saddiq's public profile, because she was close to the former youth and sports minister.
She said she was initially a volunteer, but she was chosen to join the team in early 2018, when it was rumoured that Syed Saddiq would stand in Muar in the 14th General Election.
Siti Nurul Hidayah said Team Saddiq had been working for about two month prior to GE14 and had organise about 10 programmes to promote Syed Saddiq as the candidate for Muar.
She said Syed Saddiq funded all the programmes organised by Team Saddiq without financial assistance from Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada) or Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
She said Team Saddiq had planned fundraisers to help Syed Saddiq in his GE14 campaign in Muar, namely Makan Amal Muo and Fundraising Battle for Johor in Ampang.
She said Team Saddiq had discussed the best way to manage the funds raised at the events, and decided it was inappropriate to use personal accounts.
The team then decided to use the Maybank business account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise (ABBE).
When Asyraf asked if she knew that the money raised at the events had been transferred from the ABBE account to the personal and Amanah Saham Bumiputra accounts belonging to the accused, she answered "no".
The witness also disagreed with the suggestion that Syed Saddiq did not say anything about transferring the money to his personal accounts because it was wrong.
Siti Nurul Hidayah said she was threatened by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers when she was called to give her statement in the investigation against Syed Saddiq in 2020.
She said the officers' actions led her to lodge a police report and called for a media conference on the matter.
Proceedings before judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid continues tomorrow.