Zafrul testifies Finance Ministry only formalised appointments
KUALA LUMPUR: Contractor companies recommended by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) were all awarded projects under the Jana Wibawa programme, the High Court heard.
Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who was Finance Minister under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration, testified that the ministry’s only role then was as executor from the evaluation aspect and finalising company appointments by following rules and regulations of the authorities.
“Should the company submit its letter of application to the PMO and the letter is not channelled to the Finance Ministry for evaluation, the Contractor Evaluation Committee would not be making any assessment on the company.
“This is because all contractors’ names under the Jana Wibawa programme were submitted by the PMO,” he said yesterday during Muhyiddin’s graft trial linked to the Jana Wibawa programme.
Tengku Zafrul said the prime minister did not have the statutory authority to determine whether a project should be executed through direct negotiation 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 Finance Minister between March 2020 and October 2021, took the stand as the 11th prosecution witness in the trial.
He also testified that he never received personal financial benefits from Jana Wibawa projects.
In his witness statement, he confirmed a proposal letter from Muhyiddin addressed to him for the appointment of 54 companies through direct negotiations for projects already approved by the latter.
He said direct negotiation meant awarding a project directly to a listed company without having to go through tender process or competitive bidding with other contractor companies.
“Regarding the 54 companies and the disbursement of projects in the letter, I do not have knowledge how the assessment on the companies and selection of projects for each company was done by PMO.
“I confirm that the companies listed in this document was by PMO and not by me or the Finance Ministry,” he added.
Tengku Zafrul also testified that he was not aware of Muhyiddin’s party Bersatu purportedly receiving donations from the companies listed.
“I confirm that I never received any contributions from the 54 companies listed. I have no knowledge that the 54 companies ever gave contributions to any political parties, or otherwise,” he added.
As Finance Minister under Muhyiddin’s administration, Tengku Zafrul said he and Muhyiddin enjoyed a cordial relationship which remained till this day.
“I have no direct family ties with him and have no ill intention against him or any party in my testimony here,” he said.
Muhyiddin, 78, is charged with four counts of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM225.3mil in relation to Jana Wibawa from three companies and an individual for Bersatu.
The offence was allegedly committed at the PMO, 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 today before Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin.
