KUALA LUMPUR: All of the contractor companies awarded projects under the Jana Wibawa programme were companies recommended by the Prime Minister's Office, the High Court was told.
Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, who was the finance minister during Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's administration, testified this during the latter's graft trial linked to the Jana Wibawa project.
"The Finance Ministry's only role was the executor from the evaluation aspect as well as finalising the companies' appointments following the rules and regulations of the authorities.
"Should the company submit its letter of application to the PMO and the letter is not channelled by the PMO to the Finance Ministry for evaluation, the Contractor Evaluation Committee would not be making any assessment on the company.
"This is because all of the contractors' names under the Jana Wibawa programme were submitted by the PMO," he said here on Monday (July 6).
Tengku Zafrul said the prime minister did not have the statutory authority to determine whether a project is executed through direct negotiations or pre-qualification tender.
"The authority to approve the procurement method lies in the hands of the Finance Minister," he added.
Tengku Zafrul, who was the finance minister between March 2020 and October 2021, took the stand as the 11th prosecution witness in the trial.
He also said throughout his tenure as the finance minister under Muhyiddin's administration, he and Muhyiddin enjoyed a good relationship.
"I have no direct family ties with him, and I don't have any ill intention against him or any parties in my testimony here at the court today.
"My relationship with him (Muhyiddin) remains good until today," he added.
Muhyiddin, 78, who was then the prime minister, was charged with four counts of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM225.3mil in relation to the Jana Wibawa Project from three companies and an individual for the party.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister's Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.
He also faces three counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities totalling RM200mil which were deposited into Bersatu's bank accounts between February 2021 and July 2022.
The hearing continues tomorrow before Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin.
