KUALA LUMPUR: Former international trade and industry minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said he mentioned Deepak Jaikishan in his speech as there was a photo of the businessman with a minister on a plane, the High Court heard.
He said the picture showing Deepak with Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu sitting together in a flight emerged a few days after the latter answered questions in Parliament regarding the government's special permit to import eggs from India.
Azmin said he brought up Deepak's name in a talk titled "Ceramah Perdana: Solidariti Menentang Kezaliman" near Taman Melawar here on March 11 last year because he was questioning why Deepak was on the same plane as Mohamad.
He was testifying as a witness in a defamation suit brought against him by J&E Advance Tech Sdn Bhd over allegations that the company was awarded a project to import eggs from India via direct negotiation with the government.
Azmin, who was cross-examined by lawyer T. Gunaseelan, said he wanted to seek clarification from Deepak, Mohamed and the ministry about the picture, to which they never responded.
Gunaseelan: Why did you mention Deepak's name?
Azmin: I questioned it after he was seen with the minister on the plane.
Gunaseelan: Are you still alleging that the plaintiff (J&E) obtained import permits unlawfully?
Azmin: I never made accusations against J&E... I only questioned the lack of transparency in the process of importing eggs from India.
Gunaseelan: But do you need to mention Deepak's name or the plaintiff?
Azmin: That is not correct. The issue arose two days after the announcement, when a photo of the minister (Mohamed) and Deepak surfaced... Is it wrong for me to raise it?
The company is seeking general, exemplary and aggravated damages from Azmin. It is also seeking a court order to stop Azmin from repeating his statement.
On March 12, last year, during a Perikatan Nasional ceramah in Taman Melewar, Azmin alleged that the government had awarded the project to import eggs from India via direct negotiations.
He claimed that the direct awarding of the contract contradicted the promise of an open tender process made by the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Azmin also claimed that Mohamad, as the minister in charge, had taken the businessman involved in his visit to India recently.
On Feb 28, last year, Mohamad was reported to have said that only one company was permitted to import eggs from India and that the move was taken to resolve the lack of supply in the local market.
However, when questioned by Putrajaya member of parliament Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin, Mohamad admitted that the company did not go through the open tender process because it was a "special case".