Khalid (right) when leaving the High Court today. -Photo by AMIN AZMAN/KOSMO!
KUALA LUMPUR - Businessman, Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa said that Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi through Yayasan Akalbudi provided investment funds of RM10 million to Armada Holdings Sdn. Bhd. and not a loan.
The investment fund is to bid for a tender as a coal supplier company to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) without the foundation suffering any losses.
Khalid, 64, said the funds were later returned to Yayasan Akalbudi along with the appropriate interest amounting to RM69,722.65 two months after that.
"Indirectly, the foundation did not suffer any loss, but rather gained the same or deserved profit," said Khalid who is also the eighth defense witness when reading his witness statement.
Khalid said when he found out the money was from the Akalbudi Foundation (RM10 million) and from a fixed savings account, he (Khalid) informed the Chief Executive Officer of Armada Holdings, Datuk Wasi Khan @ Wasiyu Zama Israr to calculate interest based on 'opportunity loss' from the money when returning it.
"From my experience as a banker, when money is kept in a fixed savings account, it is indirectly to generate profit through investment. Therefore, in my understanding, the RM10 million money given by Datuk Seri Zahid to Datuk Wasi Khan is still in the form of an investment without any loss to the withdrawal of the money. "
I also know that Datuk Seri Zahid is a former banker and has knowledge on this matter. The sum of RM10 million is intended solely to enable the Armada Holdings company to be eligible to bid for the tender as a coal supplier company to TNB which is believed to provide a good return to the company if successful and not for other purposes," the witness added.
Khalid said on the basis of responsibility, he applied to be one of the signatories of the Armada Holdings company to ensure that the investment from Ahmad Zahid through Yayasan Akalbudi was returned safely without loss and with interest.
Meanwhile, when reading further the witness's statement, Khalid said, he has known Ahmad Zahid
for quite a long period of almost 30 years and started knowing Ahmad Zahid since working as a manager of the loan department at the Bumiputra bank which is now known as Bank CIMB.
"The long period of acquaintance made me close to Datuk Seri Zahid and get to know his nature and character. Among his qualities that I know is that he is generous, generous and likes to help when someone needs help. Due to being quite close to him (Ahmad Zahid) I also used to do some social activities together with him. Among them, we both have the same interest in motoring," he said.
Telling about the grant of RM10 million to Armada Holdings, Khalid said around 2015, Wasi Khan who was also the 21st prosecution witness met him and informed him that he (Wasi Khan) intended to establish a coal supply company in Indonesia.
According to Khalid, the company in question (Armada) needs a paid-up capital of RM10 million to meet the minimum requirements to be registered as a supplier or contractor under TNB.
"Datuk Wasi Khan knows that I am a close acquaintance of Datuk Seri Zahid and he (Wasi Khan) has asked for my help to arrange a meeting with Datuk Seri Zahid. I agreed to Datuk Wasi Khan's request and arranged a meeting between the two of us with Datuk Seri Zahid at his office at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Putrajaya.
"I further informed Datuk Seri Zahid about Datuk Wasi Khan's credibility, background and involvement in business. Datuk Seri Zahid believes that I will not bring random individuals to meet Datuk Seri Zahid unless I am confident in the trustworthiness of the individual," he said who has known Wasi Khan for 20 years.
He said, at the end of the discussion, Ahmad Zahid agreed to be involved by helping to provide funds amounting to RM10 million and Wasi Khan informed that he had received a check from YAB.
"As a result of receiving the cheque, Datuk Wasi Khan established Armada Holdings Sdn Bhd with a total paid-up capital of RM10 million," he said.
Meanwhile, answering the question of Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohd. Dusuki Mokhtar, Khalid did not agree that the fund was a loan, but rather an investment and the witness did not cross Ahmad Zahid's invitation to help provide RM10 million in funds.
When questioned further, did the witness not think how Ahmad Zahid obtained the funds (RM10 million), Khalid replied that Ahmad Zahid is a corporate figure, entrepreneur, former banker in addition to having various financial resources.
The hearing before High Court Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continued this afternoon.
Ahli perniagaan yang juga suami kepada penyanyi Siti Nurhaliza, Datuk K hadir di Kompleks Mahkamah KL untuk memberi keterangan sebagai saksi bagi kes TPM Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yang menghadapi 47 pertuduhan pecah amanah, rasuah dan pengubahan wang haram. pic.twitter.com/hnOsSgBHID
— BERNAMA TV 🇲🇾 (@BernamaTV) August 21, 2023
