Hamzah Zainuddin’s Ex-PolSec Sayed Amir Muzzakkir Expressed Anger Over Unpaid RM2m – Witness

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — The Sessions Court was told today that former political secretary Sayed Amir Muzzakkir Al Sayed Mohamad expressed deep dissatisfaction and anger over an alleged unpaid RM2 million debt owed to him by Nexuscorpgroup Sdn Bhd (NSB) managing director Wan Azhar Mohamed Yusof.

Testifying in court today, NSB independent consultant Khairul Nizam Mohd Sayuti, 54, said the former aide to then Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin personally raised the matter during a private meeting at his Publika office on Jan 29, 2021.

“There were only the two of us at the meeting. Sayed Amir Muzzakkir asked me about projects I was aware of and could obtain in the future. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with Wan Azhar, alleging that payments were inadequate, delayed and that RM2 million remained outstanding,” Khairul Nizam said while reading from his witness statement.

“I merely listened and advised Sayed Amir Muzzakkir to follow the agreement that had been reached,” the witness added.

Questioned by Deputy Public Prosecutor Hazel Tan Jia Qi regarding the accused’s demeanour, Khairul Nizam observed that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir appeared visibly upset, noting that “his tone suggested disappointment and possibly anger.”

The witness further testified that Wan Azhar had previously requested him to inform the accused that he was unable to make further payments due to delayed claims from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

“I only knew Wan Azhar had to make payments to Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, but I was not aware of the payment schedule or the details of the amounts involved,” Khairul Nizam told the court.

“I also did not know the total amount that Wan Azhar had paid to Sayed Amir Muzzakkir. I was not involved in, nor did I witness, any of the payment transactions between them,” he explained.

Addressing how the accused initially offered assistance to secure the multi-million ringgit contract, Khairul Nizam stated that Wan Azhar had informed him that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir initiated contact to discuss helping NSB secure the PDRM equipment maintenance and spare parts supply project.

“Wan Azhar also informed me that Sayed Amir Muzzakkir and his friend would meet him at his (Wan Azhar’s) office to discuss helping him obtain the project. Wan Azhar asked me to attend the meeting,” he said.

Asked why he believed the accused possessed the capacity to deliver the contract, Khairul Nizam pointed directly to his official government position at the time.

“I believed his position allowed him to assist in ensuring the project was awarded to NSB. I knew he was the Home Minister’s Political Secretary at the time,” he testified.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Datuk Yaacob Md Sam, the witness acknowledged he was unaware whether NSB was the top-ranked bidder or had submitted the lowest tender price for the RMPNet project.

Sayed Amir Muzzakkir, 43, pleaded not guilty on May 23, 2024, to three corruption charges involving RM350,000. He is accused of receiving RM350,000 in bribes from Wan Azhar on Dec 4 and Dec 16, 2020, at Yayasan Tanah Aku in Solaris Dutamas, alongside a separate charge of soliciting RM350,000 at NSB’s Shah Alam office in early December 2020 to help secure a RM381 million PDRM maintenance and spare parts supply tender.

The charges, framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the bribe value upon conviction.

The trial before Judge Rosli Ahmad will resume on Aug 19.

-NMT