KUALA LUMPUR: Former finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz told the High Court that meeting notes from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin were regarded as instructions that required action and consideration. He noted that this was because Muhyiddin was the prime minister at the time.
Tengku Zafrul, who is the 11th prosecution witness in the Jana Wibawa graft trial of Muhyiddin, said based on his experience as the then finance minister, the minutes of the prime minister must be considered but were not blanket approvals.
"There are minutes that needed follow-ups with recommendations. Sometimes you either agree or disagree in the recommendations," he said on Wednesday (July 8).
He explained that because the prime minister was the superior who appointed Cabinet members, his minutes functioned as instructions to himself and the Finance Ministry to consider an issue, but not an instruction to approve it.
To a question by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Tengku Zafrul said if the prime minister wrote a note stating "not to consider", he would not make any consideration on the matter.
The witness also testified that he has no knowledge why some companies were recommended for direct negotiations while others were minuted for the pre-qualification process.
He said the only person who would know the reason behind this was the person who issued the minute or signed the recommendation letter, identifying Muhyiddin as the signatory.
On Monday (July 6), the High Court heard that 54 contractor companies recommended by the Prime Minister's Office were all awarded projects under the Jana Wibawa programme.
Muhyiddin, 78, faces 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 his party.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister's Office 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 on Thursday (July 9).
