Nepturis Sdn Bhd director Aliza Abd Malek says she does not know whether former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was aware of Nepturis’s ownership arrangement.
Aliza Abd Malek, 46, disagreed with defence counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad’s assertion in former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s corruption trial that Lian Tian Chuan had transferred ownership of Nepturis Sdn Bhd to her and fellow director Rizman Akum Khan as a front to secure projects, including the RM141 million contract to build the Klang Utara police headquarters.
During cross-examination, Aliza, the 13th prosecution witness, said she received a basic monthly salary of RM6,500 as a director, RM6,000 in allowances, and an annual bonus of up to two months’ salary.
Amer: The earnings were rewards to ensure you remained a director and, on paper, a shareholder. Do you agree?
Aliza: It is all “rezeki” (blessing).
Amer: So your “rezeki” came from allowing Lian to use your name?
Aliza: He did not use my name. He wanted me to progress in my career. That is why he handed the company over to me and Rizman.
Last week, Aliza testified that she and Rizman each held a 50% stake in Nepturis, although Lian continued to control the company after handing it over to them in 2018.
The senior procurement executive also admitted that this arrangement was not disclosed to the Companies Commission of Malaysia.
In January 2022, Nepturis was awarded a contract to build a police headquarters under the Jana Wibawa programme, which was introduced to assist Bumiputera contractors.
During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Noralis Mat, Aliza was asked about Lian’s continued involvement in Nepturis.
She said Lian had given her and Rizman an opportunity to advance in their careers but remained involved in managing the company.
“As I stated in my press statement, I have known him for a long time, and he gave Rizman and me the opportunity to advance in our careers and improve our family’s situation. Through his capital injection, strategy, business development and guidance, Rizman and I continued to run Nepturis in line with the trust he had placed in us.
“Also, Lian was not restricted from being involved in the company’s management,” she said.
Asked whether Muhyiddin knew about the private arrangement between her, Rizman and Lian regarding the company’s ownership, Aliza said she did not know and that only Lian could answer that question.
Meanwhile, the 14th prosecution witness, Saipullah Husin, a senior assistant civil engineer with the public works department, confirmed that he had been involved in the Pulau Indah Ring Road Phase 3 construction and upgrading project since Oct 14, 2022. The project was awarded to Sutracom Sdn Bhd.
He verified several certificates recommending payments for completed works, as well as payment vouchers issued to Sutracom, consultants and subcontractors.
Saipullah told the court the project was five days ahead of schedule, with 83.8% of works completed, and was expected to be completed by Jan 4, 2027.
Muhyiddin, 78, faces seven charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme, a government initiative introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist Bumiputera contractors.
The Bersatu president is charged with four counts of abusing his position to solicit RM225.3 million in bribes for the party from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis, Mamfor Sdn Bhd and Azman Yusoff.
The offences were allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Office between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021.
He also faces three counts of money laundering involving RM200 million allegedly received from Bukhary Equity and deposited into Bersatu’s accounts at AmBank and CIMB Bank.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place at AmBank in Petaling Jaya and CIMB Bank on Jalan Stesen Sentral between Feb 25, 2021, and July 8, 2022.
The trial before Justice Noor Ruwena Nurdin continues tomorrow. - FMT
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