Former home ministry secretary-general Alwi Ibrahim said based on the minutes recorded on Oct 18, 2016 and sent to him, Zahid only agreed to the extension.

“Zahid’s comments in the minutes were as follows: ‘Datuk Seri KSU/ Datuk PUU, I have no objection to the contract extension of six months until Aug 31, 2025, as stated in Article 2.2.1 of the existing agreement. Please prepare the supplementary agreement soonest possible’,” he added.

When questioned by counsel Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, who is representing the former deputy prime minister, on Paragraph 10 of the witness statement, Alwi, 63, agreed with the lawyer that Zahid’s recorded minutes were not an instruction.

Zaidi: What did Tan Sri (Alwi) understand by the minutes (recorded) by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid to realise it as soon as possible?

Alwi: My understanding was that it must be done fast.

Zaidi: How fast? One, two weeks?

Alwi: It would depend on the contract.

Alwi also agreed with Zaidi that although the minutes recorded by Zahid said the contract extension should be done immediately, it was still subject to the home ministry procedures.

Zahid, 69, is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million from UKSB as inducement for himself, as an official of a public body, that is as home minister, by extending the contract of the company as the one-stop visa centre service operator in China and the VLN system, as well as retaining the contract agreement to supply the VLN integrated system to the same company by the ministry.

For the seven other charges, Zahid is alleged, as the same minister, to have obtained for himself S$1,150,000, RM3 million, €15,000 and US$15,000 from UKSB that had links with his official duties.

The hearing before Judge Yazid Mustafa will continue on March 7.