Hamzah Zainuddin’s Ex-Political Aide Asked for Cut of RM19 Million Consultancy Fee, Court Hears

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — A key prosecution witness told the Sessions Court today that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir Al Sayed Mohamad, then political secretary to former Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, asked him for a cut of his RM19 million consultancy fee from a RM381 million Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) tender for political purposes.

Testifying as the 15th prosecution witness in the corruption trial of Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, Al Khairi Group Berhad managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Khairi Mat Jahya, 43, revealed details of meetings surrounding the multi-million ringgit police communication system project.

“Frankly, I never agreed to give Sayed anything he asked for. His inquiries at the meeting were aimed at securing ‘a portion’ if possible, for political ends,” Mohd Khairi said during examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Atirah Mohd Azuarizanuddin.

Mohd Khairi stated that in mid-April 2020, Sayed Amir Muzzakkir contacted him to arrange a meeting at the office of Nexuscorpgroup Sdn Bhd’s managing director Wan Azhar Mohamed Yusof. During discussions, the accused allegedly insisted on establishing the amount he would receive should Nexuscorpgroup secure the PDRM tender for the Maintenance and Supply of Spare Parts for Infrastructure Equipment, Servers, Software, and RMPNet System Radio Users.

The witness added that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir also sought political funding, citing his role in introducing Mohd Khairi to Nexuscorpgroup and then Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin.

When asked by the prosecution why he refused to grant a portion of the RM19 million consultancy fee, Mohd Khairi explained that no project details, profile documents, or background papers existed at the time, making it impossible to agree based on verbal discussions alone.

Mohd Khairi further testified that Wan Azhar later requested a dummy invoice for RM350,000. Although unaware of the underlying purpose, the witness prepared the invoice to ensure Wan Azhar did not withhold his remaining balance payments.

Expressing shock upon learning that Wan Azhar had paid RM350,000 to Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, Mohd Khairi testified that he had never promised the accused a cut. He told the court that Wan Azhar instructed him to issue a company invoice to legitimize the RM350,000 payment, citing constant pressure from the accused.

Under cross-examination by defense counsel Datuk Yaacob Md Sam, Mohd Khairi agreed that he had never promised Sayed Amir Muzzakkir any payment for his appointment as an advisor to Nexuscorpgroup, while disagreeing with counsel’s suggestion that the RM350,000 payment formed part of his consultancy fee.

Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, 43, faces two charges of accepting bribes totaling RM350,000 from Wan Azhar as an inducement to help Nexuscorpgroup secure the RM381,112,042.44 RMPNet tender, alongside one count of soliciting RM350,000 from the same individual in December 2020.

All charges are framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine of not less than five times the bribe value or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The trial before Sessions Court Judge Rosli Ahmad continues tomorrow.

–NMT