Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that he did not reject Muhyiddin Yassin's directives, conveyed through the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), to award Jana Wibawa projects via direct tender in 2020 and 2021.
This is despite having the authority as the then finance minister to do so.
Instead, Zafrul said he instructed the Finance Ministry's Contractor Selection and Evaluation Division to process a list of 54 companies Muhyiddin had proposed for the projects, before he approved the contractors.
“As the finance minister, I also possessed the authority to issue a directive to the ministry’s Contractor Selection and Evaluation Division requiring no further action to be taken.
“The approval I granted was a follow-up action aligned with the proposal submitted via the prime minister’s letter, dated Nov 13, 2020, regarding project implementation under Jana Wibawa.
“Without that letter, the procurement process (including for) KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd would not have been initiated,” he said in his witness statement during Muhyiddin's Jana Wibawa corruption trial.
KCJ Engineering was awarded a RM100 million project under Jana Wibawa to build a new road linking Felda Bukit Galor and Gemas in Negeri Sembilan.
Procurement authority
Zafrul also acknowledged that the prime minister had no authority to decide whether projects should be awarded through direct negotiation or pre-qualification.
“I do not know how PMO evaluates companies and selects projects for each (of these companies).
“I confirm that the companies listed in the documents (referred in court) were selected by the PMO, not by the Finance Ministry nor me.
“I do not know where Muhyiddin got the names of these 54 companies, or how they were listed (for projects), as the list did not come from me nor my ministry.
“I also do not know how these companies knew of the projects that they were applying for (nor) why these companies sent letters straight to Muhyiddin,” he said.
Zafrul added that he would not have known any of the 54 companies if not for Muhyiddin's letter.
He said Muhyiddin's "suggestion" came after a cabinet meeting held on the same day, although the procurement method for Jana Wibawa projects was not discussed during that meeting.
Throughout his 75-page witness statement, Zafrul repeatedly testified that Muhyiddin's directives formed the basis of his approvals, despite having the authority as finance minister to reject them.
‘I have no vested interest’
Zafrul said KCJ Engineering initially failed the first stage of the procurement evaluation and was not recommended for the project.
He said Muhyiddin later sent supporting documents for the company to undergo a second evaluation.
The company was subsequently awarded the project on July 6, 2021.
“KCJ Engineering has never submitted any application letter to me, personally, or to the Finance Ministry.
“I have no vested interest in KCJ Engineering and have never received any financial reward from this company or any other companies (listed).
“Neither KCJ Engineering nor any other companies have ever met with me, or submitted an application letter to secure a project,” he said.
KCJ Engineering was previously mentioned in the case trial by Shah Alam Maybank branch operations officer Chang Hui Chin, who was the sixth prosecution witness, where she confirmed the company made four payments of RM200,000 each to Bersatu.
Muhyiddin is on trial for abuse of power and money laundering involving RM255.3 million.
The charges were related to Jana Wibawa, a project introduced while he was prime minister between 2020 and 2021 to accelerate project implementation and boost the country’s economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The trial before judge Noor Ruwena Nurdin continues tomorrow. - Mkini
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