KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor helped her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor get his datukship "out of pity", the High Court here heard on Thursday (Oct 7).

       The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said this when asked about Rizal’s datukship by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram during cross-examination in her graft trial involving a RM1.25bil solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

       Rosmah said she was not the one who awarded the title to Rizal.

       “He (Rizal) was the one who submitted an application. I only gave a recommendation,” she said.

       Sri Ram: So you helped him get his datukship?

       Rosmah: Yes, saya kesian (I pitied him).

       Sri Ram: It is very kind of you to give him the datukship.

       Rosmah: No, I didn't give.

       Sri Ram: You helped him obtain a Datukship.

       Rosmah: I did not obtain, I just mentioned. Whether he was getting it or not, it was up to the Pahang state secretariat.

       Sri Ram: But your recommendation was accepted.

       Rosmah: I suppose, I was the wife of the prime minister.

       The prosecutor also asked Rosmah about Rizal’s supposed "incompetence".

       She said she discovered that her former aide was incompetent when he first worked for her.

       “He had to do my speech text but the language and content (were) very empty.

       “It wasn’t the sort of speech that should be given by the prime minister’s wife,” Rosmah added.

       She said she did not raise her dissatisfaction with Rizal but mentioned it to her special officer, Datuk Seri Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod, who was Rizal’s superior.

       Sri Ram: If you had asked Azizah Abod to remove him, she would have done it for you?

       Rosmah: I suppose so.

       Rosmah is facing one charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5mil from Jepak Holdings’ former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

       The bribes were allegedly received through Rizal as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel generator sets for 369 Sarawak rural schools worth RM1.25bil from the Education Ministry through direct negotiation.

       The hearing continues before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan on Oct 21.