YAB account sealed, mosque contractor not paid three months - Witness

KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court here was told today that the contractor for the Tuminah Hamidi Mosque project in Bagan Datuk, Perak, did not receive payment for three months because the account of the Akalbudi Foundation (YAB) was sealed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The project manager for the mosque construction, Ramli Ngah, 56, said as a result, the construction of the mosque was interrupted and this caused the project to be delayed.

"The construction work of the mosque was halted in 2018 and only resumed in early 2019," he said when reading out his witness statement at the defence trial of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on 12 charges of breach of trust, eight charges of corruption and 27 charges of money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit in YAB's funds.

Ramli, of Noble Energy Construction Sdn Bhd, the contractor for the mosque project, said he was aware that the mosque project was funded by YAB and Al-Falah Foundation was the developer.

He said the construction of the mosque started on June 12, 2017, with the groundbreaking ceremony conducted by Ahmad Zahid.

The ninth defence witness said Ahmad Zahid went to the site often to monitor the progress of the mosque project.

Questioned by lawyer Aiman ​​Abdul Rahman, representing Ahmad Zahid, Ramli said the mosque project, costing RM43.7 million, was completed last April.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Al Aula Mosque in Hutan Melintang Bagan Datuk, Mohd Sani Chik said the construction of the mosque was fully contributed by Ahmad Zahid.

"I still remember that in 1998, I went to Kuala Lumpur with the then chairman of the mosque construction committee Haji Yusuf (now deceased) to meet Datuk Seri Zahid, who was then Bank Simpanan Nasional chairman. The meeting was held in his office at the bank.

"After the meeting, Datuk Seri Zahid agreed to contribute RM400,000 and gave us his personal cheque. The cheque was issued under the name of Masjid Al Aula," said Mohd Sani, who is the 10th defence witness.

In his testimony in April last year, Ahmad Zahid said Akalbudi Foundation's contributions in Bagan Datuk, included holding Ihya Ramadan (breaking of fast) for the poor, asnaf and orphans, renovation of Surau Kampung Parit 25 and the construction of the Tuminah Hamidi Mosque.

The trial before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow. - BERNAMA