Former Felda chairperson Shahrir Samad was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with failing to declare RM1 million which he received from Najib Abdul Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

Shahrir, 71, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read out to him before judge Azura Alwi.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, secretary-general Annuar Musa and other party leaders Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Noh Omar, Asyraf Wajdi and Lokman Adam were present at the court as a show of support for Shahrir and Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan who is also being charged in an adjacent court with failure to declare RM2 million he received from Najib to the IRB and giving a false statement to the MACC.

Deputy public prosecutor Norzilati Izhani Zainal had initially asked the judge to set Shahrir’s bail at RM500,000, same as Ahmad Maslan.

However, the judge eventually fixed his bail at RM350,000 and also ordered him to surrender his passport.

The court then set Feb 24 for the next case mention.

Shahrir was represented by Syahrul Syazwan Salehin, Shaharudin Ali, Fahmi Abd Moin and Adnan Seman.

If convicted, Shahrir will face up to RM5 million in fines or jail time up to five years or both.