This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on February 12, 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: Former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has denied that the team of people vouching for the approval of the solar hybrid project in 369 schools in Sarawak was in fact led by him and not the managing director (MD) of the company pitching for the project, Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Lead defence lawyer Datuk Jagjit Singh in his cross-examination of Mahdzir put it to the former minister that it was “Team Mahdzir”, and not “Team Saidi”, leading the project.

Jagjit implied that the witness has been lying to the court in order to protect himself and not face prosecution for receiving a purported bribe from Jepak MD.

“No, I disagree!” Mahdzir denied vehemently.

Yesterday, Mahdzir denied Jagjit’s suggestion that he received a bribe of RM50,000 from Saidi Abang Samsudin, while on a trip to the UK with his family.

Jagjit also alleged that besides receiving the RM50,000, the former minister also demanded RM60 million, which he purportedly later increased to RM200 million, after Jepak received approval for the project in December 2016, which Mahdzir also denied.

Later, the lawyer and witness were engaged in a short argument over whether Mahdzir believed he is a principled person.

Jagjit: Are you a principled person?

Mahdzir: I follow the rules.

Jagjit: No! I am asking are you a principled person, not whether you follow the rules.

Mahdzir: I follow the rules.

Rosmah’s graft trial resumes today.