KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry's procurement division only processed company applications for the Jana Wibawa programme recommended by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the High Court heard.
The division's former deputy undersecretary, Datin Rosni Mohd Yusoff, 54, testified that she received instructions to process company applications from her superior at the time, former undersecretary Datuk Zamzuri Abdul Aziz, 56.
"He (also) received instructions from his higher-up. For the Jana Wibawa programme, we only process applications that came from the PMO," she said here on Friday (Aug 21).
The 25th prosecution witness, who was the then chairperson for the Jana Wibawa contractor evaluation committee, said this during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Noralis Mat at Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's graft trial linked to Jana Wibawa.
The witness, who is now the procurement division undersecretary, was also asked to clarify where such instructions came from.
"The hierarchy (of instruction) came from the PMO to the Finance Minister's office, which then instructs the undersecretary of procurement division to execute the instruction in the minute.
"That is my source of authority to execute the process. That is the work process of a civil servant," Rosni said.
DPP Noralis: So it (the order) wouldn't come out of nowhere, is that right, Datin?
Rosni: Yes, correct.
During cross-examination earlier, Rosni got into a heated exchange of words with Muhyiddin's lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, who told the witness to show the court any documents that could back her claim that there were instructions for the projects to be awarded by direct negotiations.
Rosni could not find the exact documents but insisted such instructions existed.
Amer Hamzah: But you did not receive any instructions from Tan Sri (Muhyiddin)?
Rosni: No.
The lawyer then pressed hard with his questions for the witness to show a documentary proof.
"I did receive the instructions… If I didn't, I wouldn't be making the assessment (on the companies)," Rosni answered.
Former prime minister Muhyiddin, 79, was charged with four counts of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM225.3mil in relation to the Jana Wibawa project from four companies and an individual; Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd and Datuk Azman Yusoff.
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 resumes before Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nordin on Aug 26.
