Kota Kinabalu: Former Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah denied he received RM500,000 cash while he was in the Ministry office in September 2005.
He was testifying in the corruption trial of former Water Department director Awang Mohd Tahir, 63.
Counsel Datuk Ansari Abdullah asked about the testimony of Kota Kinabalu Divisional Water Engineer Teo Chee Kong regarding the money given to Tan during his tenure as minister.
Ansari: There was evidence from Teo that in September 2005, he prepared and handed over in the presence of Lim cash RM500k and it was done in your office?
Tan: It is not true. In the Ministry, we do not want any visitors to bring any cash for the minister. There is a standard guideline from the Prime Minister that the minister should not accept any gift. Also if Mr Teo has brought with him any money, it would been noticed by the Security officers.
There are two level of securities in the ministers’ office. One is in the entrance of the building and another is at the entrance at the Ministry’s office. If they are carrying any gifts, it could be captured by CCTV, or if would be noticed by public relation officer who arrange them to enter the minister office. I believe it is still present practice.
Ansari: It is evidence of Teo who was divisional engineer during your tenure of the office sometime the second quarter of 2005 he (Teo) together with Lim visited you in your office and told you that ‘Datuk we have agreed to allocate something for you, when collected from quotation works for Jabatan Air Negeri Sabah (JANS), true?
Tan: The fact that Teo and Lim came to the office the second quarter of 2005, I can only remember there was a visit by them but I can’t didn’t remember the exact date and time.
It is a standard practice that for Teo to see me and would be accompanied by his senior officer. The second part of the question in relation to what Teo said is not true. If
I can remember our meeting related to what would be Teo’s scope of work as the district engineer in Kota Kinabalu.
It is important for me to tell him that the KK district being a central business district cannot have disruption of water. It was his job to ensure sufficient water supply to cover the demand especially the hospital, financial intuition including domestic demand.
Ansari: During your term in the office as minister of infrastructure development 2004-2009, were you aware or did u hear from anybody about the so call centralized collection scheme existing at the JANS?
Tan: can I ask what is the centralized collection scheme?
Ansari: It is evidence of Teo that the department will collect certain percentage from contractors in JANS and distribute the money in accordance with the centralized collection scheme scheduled which purportedly lay down amount of money paid for each quarter of the year to several people for departments including your Ministry which is stated as KPI.
Tan: This is the first time I seen this document and I have no knowledge about this schemes that Teo had testified in court.
Ansari: You remember sometime in 2006 that JANS headquarters was raided by Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) where officers were detained and money were recovered?
Tan: I could only read about the event from the newspapers.
Ansari: Since it was raided until today, was any statement recorded from you by MACC relating to money been collected and distributed including the purported RM500,000 given to you by Teo?
Tan: For the record I denied any payment, only part of the question whether there was statement taken by MACC, the answer is never. When I read about the case in the newspaper it appears to me that Teo has admitted that he may forged docs for the contactors to steal money from the treasure.
It is with respect a case of theft stealing money from the government by the contactors.
Ansari: For the period 2004-2009, was any query by the Federal Auditor Gener or State Audit Department on the contact rates for the installion of pipe...etc?
Tan: I’m not aware of any query at that time.
Tan further testified that JANS have to prepare budget that is require for any water works and justification for those works for approval of Ministry of Finance and the budget must go through him before forwarding to Finance Minister.
According to Tan, about the appointment of contractors, for the procumbent of government contracts for any department or agencies, it is the prerogative and authority of the ministry of finance. For any award of government contracts, it is governed by the Government Contracts act 1947.
Awang together with his wife Fauziah Piut, 59, and former State Water Department deputy director Lim Lam Beng, 70, are on trial for several counts related to the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUA) 2001 related to JANS scandal.
Tan will continue his testimony today (Thursday).
