Instead, the Bagan Datuk MP, who is the first defence witness, said the money was for Yayasan Akalbudi to build mosques and tahfiz schools in his constituency.

He said he had never promised Mastoro Kenny IT Consultant & Services, from which he received RM13 million, that he would help it get any MyEG project.

Among other charges, Zahid is alleged to have accepted bribes from three companies, namely Mastoro Kenny IT Consultant & Services, Datasonic Group Bhd and Profound Radiance Sdn Bhd.

According to the prosecution, the money was given as an inducement for him, in his capacity as the home minister, to help the companies obtain MyEG projects, supply passport chips and to be appointed as the operator of the migrant visa one-stop centres in Pakistan and Nepal respectively.

Two of the charges related to Mastoro where he is said to have accepted RM8 million and RM5 million in 23 cheques from one Junaith Asharab Md Shariff.

“The money was deposited into the clients account of Lewis & Co which is the trustee for the foundation (Akalbudi),” Zahid said.

The former deputy prime minister said Junaith had even testified as a prosecution witness that the money was a donation to build mosques and religious schools in the Bagan Datuk constituency

“I never promised any MyEG projects to Junaith as consideration for giving the donation,” he said, adding that the contract for the project came under the finance ministry and not the home ministry which he then helmed.

Zahid said Junaith, an Indian Muslim, was from an influential and “filthy rich family”.

“I was informed that Junaith also contributed to the building of a mosque in India where the writings of 30 Juzuk (parts) of the al-Quran are embroidered in gold and the word ‘Bismillah’ at the start of each surah (chapter) is decorated with diamonds,” he added.

Junaith had earlier testified that he had, in 2017, handed over 10 cheques worth a total of RM5 million to Zahid in his house, and that this was witnessed by Zahid’s younger brother Nasaee.

He told the court that Zahid had instructed him to write down the name of the law firm Lewis & Co as the recipient of the RM5 million in cheques.

He had also testified that Zahid had promised to give him MyEG projects worth RM50 million after the 14th general election but later, during cross-examination by the defence, he denied this.

Zahid, 69, is standing trial on 12 CBT, eight corruption and 27 money laundering charges amounting to millions of ringgit.

The hearing before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues.