Zulkifli, 64, said the note stated: “Dato Zul, please scrutinise the proposal and, if possible, implement based on the partnership method. Hoping for feedback. Please discuss with the company (concerned).”
This was written on the company’s application letter dated Jan 26, 2015.
Zulkifli, who confirmed that the Federal Territories minister then was Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, said the application letter for the purchase of the two lots of land was for the construction of a housing project under the Federal Territories Affordable Home Policy (Rumawip) and freehold housing.
“Following the letter, I had issued a reply to the senior private secretary of the Federal Territories minister, namely Rahimi Rejab, on Feb 6, 2015, informing him that there were plans to build a hostel for the DBKL Training Institute.
“In addition, the fifth paragraph (of the letter) stated that it was appropriate that the application be extended to the deputy director-general of planning Mahadi Che Ngah for further action as the application involved the sale of DBKL land.
“Any disposal of DBKL land must take into consideration whatever plans there were on the land.
“In this context, discussions and details on the planning and land use were left to the jurisdiction of Mahadi and because of this, I stated that the application should be extended to him,” he said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim.
Zulkifli, who is now retired, read his witness statement on the sixth day of the trial of Tengku Adnan.
Tengku Adnan was charged in his capacity as a public servant, namely as the Federal Territories minister, to have accepted for himself RM2 million from Chai Kin Kong via a Hong Leong Islamic Bank cheque belonging to Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd.
The cheque was deposited into the CIMB Bank account of Tadmansori Holding Sdn Bhd, in which Tengku Adnan had an interest.
He was charged with committing the offence at CIMB Bank Berhad, Pusat Bandar Damansara branch, here, on June 14, 2016, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment of up to two years or a fine or both, upon conviction.
Zulkifli subsequently confirmed that after the letter to Rahimi was issued, he had no further knowledge of the purchase of the land.
Upon cross-examination by counsel Tan Hock Chuan, representing Tengku Adnan, the 13th prosecution witness agreed with the counsel that the “minutes” by the minister were merely a proposal for consideration by him (Zulkifli), asking if it was possible for it to be implemented.
Zulkifli: “I consider this (minutes) a suggestion from the minister for consideration.”
Tan: “Agree or not; it is not necessary that these ‘minutes’ be obeyed.”
Zulkifli: “Agreed, because he (the minister) ordered a study.”
Tan: “Although there were ‘minutes’ from the minister, your action was proper because you informed that it had to comply with the DBKL process.”
Zulkifli: “True”.
Earlier, the 12th prosecution witness, Kuala Lumpur Datuk Bandar special officer Mohd Jasni Jamaludin, 32, said he had issued an official letter from the Economic Planning and Development Department (JPEPP) titled “The sale of immovable assets belonging to DBKL Datuk Bandar on Lot 53427 and Lot 53653 at Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, to Messrs Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd — Application for land ownership title dated Aug 5 2016” to the Property Valuation and Management Department (JPPH), DBKL.
He said the objective of the letter was to inform that Aset Kayamas had obtained a loan of RM16 million from CIMB Bank Bhd for the settlement of the balance of the price for both lots of land to JPPH so the original ownership title of the land could be submitted to the representative of the company.
The hearing before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues tomorrow.