Headline Mahdzir may be charged over solar panel project next year MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 01 Dec 2018 Color Full Color Section Local News Circulation 36,278 Page No 6 Readership 108,834 Language English ArticleSize 157 cm² Journalist N/A AdValue RM 5,391 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 16,173

AWAITING CLEARANCE Mahdzir may be charged oversolar panel projectnextyear

PUTRAJAYA: Former education minister DatukSeri Mahdzir Khalid is expectedtobehauledto courtnextyeartofacecharges relatedtothe scandal involving a hybrid solar panel project for ru- ral schools in . It is learnt that the Malaysian Anti-CorruptionCommission (MACC)isawaiting clearanceto charge Mahdzir,who is Padang Terap member of parliament. “Heisexpectedtobecharged next year,” asource told the New Straits Times Press yesterday. Mahdzir,who is Umno vice- president, wascalledupagain to the MACC headquarters here yesterdayfor another round of questioning.Mahdzir arrived at 9.15am and left at noon. He was grilledfor eight hours by MACC overthe hy- brid solar panel pro- ject on Thursday. He was alleged to have so- licitedand received Datuk Seri millions of Mahdzir Khalid ringgit as part of the RM1.25 billion con- tract for the project to install so- lar photovoltaic panels, and the operation andmaintenanceof diesel generators in schools in ru- ral Sarawak, which were secured via directnegotiation with the Education Ministry. Thecasefor both offences of solicitingand receiving kick- backs is being investigatedunder Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009,which carries ajail term of up to 20 years and afine of not less than fivetimes the value of the bribe, upon conviction. ApartfromMahdzir,other in- dividuals were expectedtobe chargedfor allegedly soliciting kickback from JepakHoldings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin. On Nov15, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor,the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri , wascharged with two counts of soliciting RM187.5million and re- ceiving RM1.5million for the solar panel project.