KUALA LUMPUR: Another heavyweight politician was today alleged to have received millions in political donations from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB), the High Court here heard.
This time, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was alleged to have received RM2.6 million in political donations when he was the then Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman from the contractor after the last general election.
On June 17, it was revealed that Dr Mahathir's successor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had allegedly received RM1.3 million in political donations from the same contractor four years ago.
Former UKSB administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun 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.
The court was told that Dr Mahathir received the monies through his nephew Tan Sri Rahmat Abu Bakar and this transaction was recorded in Tan's infamous ledger book dubbed 'Buku 555'.
However, Tan said he did not personally see the money being handed to Rahmat, who he codenamed as 'Kedahan' in the ledger.
He said the money was a political donation for PPBM and given to the party soon after Pakatan Harapan won the last general election.
Tan earlier testified that 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 foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.
Tan said Khairy received RM3.7 million, while Reezal received between RM200,000 and RM300,000.
Zahid, 69, who is Bagan Datuk member of parliament, has pleaded not guilty to 33 charges of receiving SG$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.