Landscaper Nasir Ismail insisted in court today that he was paid more than RM6 million by former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo for renovation works for the latter's mansion in Shah Alam.

He maintained this position when defending his testimony during cross-examination by lead defence counsel M Athimulan, who picked at Nasir's claims when proceedings began today, the fourth day of Khir's corruption trial.

NONE Athimulan ( right ) posited that since there was no record of the payments he allegedly received from Khir since 2006 and no documentation to record the progress of the works done that he was asking payment for, Nasir must be lying, and that the payments were all products of his imagination.

The defence lawyer also submitted an agreement for RM1.5 million, which was signed by Nasir and Khir in May 2007, saying that this was the real contract between the two and that renovation works only took place in that year.

Three cheques submitted

The attorney submitted three cheques totaling RM400,000 which he said Nasir had already collected and cashed as part payment for the contract.

Nasir however said he could not remember as it happened long ago, and only admitting to banking in one cheque of RM100,000.

At this Athimulan grilled Nasir on the landscaper's apparently poor memory.

"I am an artist, I am only concerned mostly with beautifying the house," countered the witness, adding that his staff often handled such things as keeping financial records.

Athimulan than changed tack and put it to Nasir that he had a disagreement with Khir when the former MB did not pay the balance of the RM1.5 million contract.

Nasir however denied this.

Steadfast in testimony

The landscaper also remained steadfast in his earlier testimony.

He insisted that the renovation works on Khir's private mansion in Shah Alam started in 2006, way before the dentist turned politician bought over the house from Ditamas Sdn Bhd, and over RM6 million was paid to him for the work.

The payment, he said, was not recorded on Khir's request.

Nasir also dismissed the alleged contract submitted by Athimulan as a "formality" that the former MB asked him to draft when he wanted to purchase the bungalow from Ditamas in 2007

Asked during re-examination later by Deputy Public prosecutor Masri Mohd Daud why he agreed to write the contract, Nasir said he was only following orders.

"He is the MB, what he asks me to do, I follow," explained the landscape artist.

Witness: I had 'no choice'