Wan Saiful and businessman to face graft charges related to Jana Wibawa scheme

PUTRAJAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan will face several charges of corruption related to the Jana Wibawa programme today.

The Tasek Gelugor MP and another individual, businessman Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad, will be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court at 9am.

While the exact number of charges to be slapped against the duo is still unknown, sources said that there “will be a few”.

“Yes, they will be charged tomorrow (today),” a source confirmed with The Star.

It is learnt that graft authorities were given the go-ahead to charge Wan Saiful, 47, and Adam Radlan, 42, late yesterday evening.

Sources said that after the go-ahead was given, Wan Saiful was summoned to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, where he was held for the night to be brought to court today.

Adam Radlan, who is also Segambut Bersatu division deputy chief, has been directed to be present at the court.

It is learnt that investigators had summoned Wan Saiful several times in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme.

Adam Radlan was remanded in January to help in the probe.

MACC had initiated an investigation on Jana Wibawa and had summoned several individuals, including former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputra Berwibawa or Economic Recovery of Authorised Bumiputra Contractors (Jana Wibawa) was set up in November 2020 to empower bumiputra contractors struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the scheme, bumiputra contractors rated with three to five stars, were given contracts through direct negotiation. The contractors were to have been approved by the Finance Ministry.

Muhyiddin had his statement recorded this week over the same investigation.

On Wednesday, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that rural development projects worth RM5.7bil under Jana Wibawa had been halted temporarily. This, he said, was only until the procurement and expenditure procedures set by the Treasury are followed.

Ahmad Zahid said the Finance Ministry, headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, wanted to check if the projects were awarded according to government requirements.