Making his defence in his corruption trial at the High Court, Isa said Zahid also offered his apology to him during the funeral of Zahid’s uncle in January 2018.

Both Isa and Zahid had been remanded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in 2017.

“I asked him why he implicated me in the investigation. He told me he could not ‘stand’ what he was going through during remand.

“He told me one of the cells in the MACC building was haunted and he was under stress,” Isa said when questioned by his lawyer, Salehuddin Saidin.

He said he asked Zahid to clarify to MACC his statement implicating him as the allegation was serious. However, Zahid did not do so until Isa was charged in court in October 2018.

Isa said he had employed Zahid on the recommendation of former prime minister Najib Razak.

“I sacked him as my special officer in 2017 because he supported the opposition, Pakatan Harapan,” he said, adding that Zahid had a “bad track record” in politics.

On his nine corruption charges amounting to RM3.09 million, Isa said he never received any kickbacks from Ikhwan Zaidel, the former owner of Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites.

He also said he did not ask Zahid to accept any gratification on his behalf.

“I did not ask Zahid to send ‘salam’ (greetings) to Ikhwan because I didn’t know him personally,” he said.

Isa said he told Ikhwan that as the Felda Investment Company (FIC) Sdn Bhd chairman, he had no power to make decisions on whether to approve the Kuching hotel purchase. FIC is Felda’s subsidiary company.

“If I do not have such authority, why do I ask Ikhwan for money? I do not understand how Ikhwan can interpret ‘salam’ as a request for gratification,” he said.

Isa also rebutted Zahid’s testimony in court that he received RM3.09 million cash in nine tranches from his then aide.

“Usually, he came to my office at Menara Felda with documents and he never came in with any paper bags.

“As a politician, I am cautious and it is impossible for me to accept cash in huge amounts in my office where the staff could easily witness it,” he said.

He said a password was needed to enter his office and only then office secretary Zuraida Arifin knew the password.

“Zuraida will open the door for me when I come to office. The office is closed when I am not in. For Zahid to say he placed the money in my office on nine occasions is something that defies logic,” he said.

Isa faces nine corruption charges amounting to RM3.09 million over Felda’s Kuching hotel purchase. The money is said to be gratification for approving the purchase.

He was freed on a criminal breach of trust charge over the purchase.

The hearing before High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali continues.