Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Ex-MB wrote support note for company, witness tells court

Former Selangor mentri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo wrote a note on an application by Roniaga Sdn Bhd to support its bid to enter into a joint venture with the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), the High Court heard.

Former PKNS general manager Datuk Harun Salim, 62, told Justice Mohtarudin Baki yesterday that he knew it was Dr Khir’s handwriting as he was “quite familiar” with his signature.

He said the note on the document dated Oct 30, 2000, said: “Permohonan disokong dan harap tiada halangan” (The application is approved and hopefully, there won’t be any obstacle).

Harun, now a pensioner, added that the application from Roniaga – owned by Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Hayroni – was for a joint venture project to develop an area in Section 3 Tambahan in Bandar Baru Bangi into a university city.

He was testifying at the trial of Dr Khir, 45, who is charged with knowingly obtaining for himself and his wife Zahrah Kechik, two plots of land and a house in Lots 8 and 10, Jalan Suasa 7/1L here from Ditamas, through its director Shamsuddin for RM3.5mil, which was much lower than the original price.

Ditamas had bought the lots on Dec 23, 2004, for RM6.5mil.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Mentri Besar’s official residence on May 29, 2007.

Harun also testified that Dr Khir had supported another application by Roniaga asking for PKNS to consider its terms and conditions regarding a performance bond in the project.

He said Dr Khir had written another note that Roniaga was a bumiputra company with a good track record and did not pose problems.

The PKNS project privatisation committee then agreed to replace the bond with a director’s guarantee, added Harun.

He said Dr Khir had also supported Roniaga’s third application for a deadline extension when it could not complete the joint venture project on time.

“The deadline extension letter was dated May 15, 2006, when the project was expected to be completed on May 8 the same year.

“Roniaga applied for a three-year extension, pushing the deadline to Dec 31, 2009. However, when the application was brought to the project privatisation committee, the extension was only approved for two years, which is until 2008,” said Harun.

During cross-examination by defence counsel M. Athimulan, Harun agreed that the committee had made the decisions over the applications and Dr Khir only served as a chairman.

He said Dr Khir had no involvement in the joint venture agreement between PKNS and Roniaga.

Source : The Star

Previous Related News : Khir Toyo trial: Ditamas director denies buying property to gain favours

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