KUALA LUMPUR: The Jana Wibawa initiative was meant to revive the economy as an economic stimulus package to create jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic, the High Court heard Tuesday (July 7).
Former finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz agreed with a suggestion by lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad that there was an urgent and important need for the programme at the time.
Tengku Zafrul, who was testifying as the 11th prosecution witness, was cross-examined by Amer Hamzah in the graft trial involving former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin here on Tuesday.
Tengku Zafrul agreed that contractors were "badly affected" at that time and helping them would have a "trickle-down effect" in the economy.
"You could see the problems faced by the SMEs, bumiputra and contractors... the whole ecosystem. Based on those interests and concerns, that's why we proposed Jana Wibawa," he added.
Tengku Zafrul also agreed to the suggestion that all of the projects could not be implemented by one minister but required higher authority approval.
Amer Hamzah: All of these projects required Cabinet approval?
Tengku Zafrul: Agreed.
According to Tengku Zafrul, the Jana Wibawa project was discussed in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Muhyiddin on Nov 13, 2020. Tengku Zafrul was the finance minister at the material time.
On the 54 contractor companies recommended by the Prime Minister's Office for the Jana Wibawa project, the witness agreed that the prosecution had not shown that Muhyiddin had personal or financial interests in the companies.
Amer Hamzah: Have you been shown (by the prosecution) any evidence that there is a conflict of interest?
Tengku Zafrul: No, I haven't been shown.
On Monday (July 6), the High Court heard that 54 contractor companies recommended by the PMO were all awarded projects under the Jana Wibawa programme.
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 before Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin tomorrow (July 8).
