State tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was unsure if the project had been implemented, but maintained it would greatly benefit the rural community.

“We can only hope that the project will carry on as the original intention of the solar hybrid project was to supply electricity to schools in rural areas,” The Borneo Post quoted him as saying in a report.

Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, to 10 years in jail and a RM970 million fine after finding her guilty of corruption in connection with the project.

Judge Zaini Mazlan granted her request to suspend the jail sentence and fine pending her appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Rosmah had been charged with soliciting RM187.5 million from former Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former aide, Rizal Mansor, as an inducement to help the company secure the RM1.25 billion Sarawak rural schools’ solar energy project.

She was also charged with receiving a bribe amounting to RM5 million from Saidi, through Rizal, at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya on Dec 20, 2016, and receiving another RM1.5 million from Saidi at Jalan Langgak Duta on Sept 7, 2017.

Karim said the High Court’s decision showed that the rule of law was being upheld, regardless of the status of the individual.

“Whether you’re a prime minister, former prime minister or a former ‘first lady’, it does not mean you are immune to the law,“ he said.