Former minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor lashed out in the High Court today after the judge refused his application to keep details of his asset declarations when he had been in the federal government from public scrutiny.
“In gist, the accused is apprehensive of his assets and that of his family to be made known publicly. He is, among others, fearful for the safety of his family should the details of his wealth be made known publicly.
“I’m of the view that to do so would in fact be contrary to the interests of justice. I’m mindful of the fact that the accused is a former federal minister and this case has garnered much public interest. The trial must not only be conducted fairly but must be seen to be conducted fairly.
“For the trial to be conducted fairly, it must be done transparently. The public, therefore, has a right to hear what the court hears and see what the court sees.
“This way the public would be able to appreciate any decision made by the court and not kept guessing by any evidence kept secret.”
“I, therefore, find that the accused has failed to convince this court here that it would be in the interests of justice or show sufficient reason to seek for this application,” the judge said.
After the court’s rejection of his bid to not have his assets publicly heard in the trial, the Umno leader commonly called Ku Nan was questioned by his own lawyer and subsequently by the prosecution.
While being questioned by the prosecution, Tengku Adnan suddenly burst out angrily.
“When I say I don’t want to declare myself, because publicly you know why. Because now I have a problem with nearly a billion assets. Because they feel they want to sensationalise, that’s why I feel I have been deprived,” he said in protest.
The court then stood down briefly, with Tengku Adnan seen leaving the witness stand where he was testifying in his own defence with a red face.
Following the court’s rejection for a private hearing or in camera hearing of the asset details, Tan then said he would ask Tengku Adnan limited details about the asset declarations.
When asked by Tan, Tengku Adnan confirmed that he had declared to the prime minister in 2001 that he had total assets valued at RM938,643,566.16 or over RM938 million, and that he had made similar asset declarations in 2006 of his total assets being worth RM711,325,822 or over RM711 million, and in 2013 at RM691,770,649 or over RM691 million, and finally at RM782,748,061 or over RM782 million in 2016.
Tengku Adnan confirmed these figures as stated in the written asset declarations that he had made to three different prime ministers, namely Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2001, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2006, and Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2013 and 2016.
Today, Tengku Adnan denied that the RM2 million cheque which businessman Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong made out to his company Tadmansori Holdings was related to himself, asserting that it was a political donation for Umno’s use in two by-elections in 2016.
Tan: Now I would like to ask you regarding the RM2 million from Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong, was this sum of RM2 million from Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong connected in any way to your official function as minister of federal territories?
Tengku Adnan: No.
Tan: What was this sum of RM2 million for?
Tengku Adnan: It was a political donation which I have asked from him and he agreed to give RM2 million political donation. And I also advanced money first to run the two by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar.
Earlier, Tengku Adnan explained why Chai issued a RM2 million cheque purportedly for “political donation” to his Tadmansori Holdings and not in cash directly to the party.
“Tan Sri informed me that it’s very difficult to get cash. So anyway, I already advanced my money for the by-elections. I advanced the money to my own company, that’s why I said, you can give me a cheque but write it to Tadmansori Holdings,” Tengku Adnan said.
Tengku Adnan had said that Chai had been making donations to Umno and BN since he was appointed Umno chief secretary in 1999, while also insisting that he had never intended to receive the RM2 million for himself and that he did not need the RM2 million as he was already a successful businessman before joining the Cabinet.