A director of Metrasys Sdn Bhd told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that he had no intention to deceive the Finance Ministry or the government to secure projects under the Jana Wibawa Programme.
Lian Tan Chuan, 55, who is also the founder of Nepturis Sdn Bhd, said he had never applied for government projects because opportunities for non-bumiputera companies were extremely limited compared with bumiputera companies.
The 21st prosecution witness said this when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin at the trial of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces seven charges of abuse of power and money laundering involving the Jana Wibawa project.
At a previous proceeding, Nepturis’ director and senior procurement executive Aliza Abd Malek testified that the company received an email on March 26, 2021, from the Finance Ministry informing the company had secured the project to construct the North Klang district police headquarters (IPD) in Selangor, worth RM141 million.
Asked by Shaharuddin whether Metrasys could be converted into a bumiputera company, as the witness had employees, namely Aliza and Rizman (Akum Khan) Lian replied: "It could be converted, but I wanted to keep Metrasys solely for myself and my wife.”
“For a bumiputera company, we had other plans, which is why we established Nepturis."
However, Lian said that under the requirements of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), his name could not appear in two companies.
"For example, if my name is already in Metrasys, it cannot be registered in Nepturis.
“If it were registered anyway, it would be rejected, and Nepturis would not obtain the G7 (licence) and bumiputera status," he said.
In earlier proceedings, Aliza said that in 2018, she and Rizman (Nepturis managing director) took over the company owned by Lian, and were appointed company directors with each holding a 50 percent stake.
Aliza, who is the 13th prosecution witness, said Lian, better known as TC Lian, held a 30 percent equity stake in Nepturis because all of the company's capital came from capital injections by Lian's company, Metrasys.
Contributions for Bersatu
Meanwhile, when asked by Shaharuddin why Metrasys' letter of interest was not attached to the application for the North Klang IPD construction project, Lian replied that Metrasys was not a bumiputera company.
Regarding contributions to Bersatu, the witness admitted that Azman (Yusoff) and Adam Radlan (Adam Muhammad) had solicited contributions for the political party.
Shaharuddin: In this case, you contributed RM1 million after receiving the Letter of Acceptance (SST) for the North Klang IPD, and who requested it?
Lian: "That is correct, Azman requested it."
Answering Shaharuddin's question on why Azman requested the RM1 million contribution and whether it was a form of reward, Lian said it was made because Nepturis had secured the North Klang IPD project.
‘Never met Muhyiddin’
Lian also agreed with the suggestion by counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing Muhyiddin, that he had never met or held discussions with Muhyiddin, nor did he know the former premier personally.
The witness agreed with counsel's suggestion that Muhyiddin had never solicited any contribution for himself or Bersatu from him.
Muhyiddin, 79, faces four charges of using his position to obtain gratification amounting to RM225.3 million for the party from four companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis, Mamfor Sdn Bhd and KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd, as well as Azman, in connection with the Jana Wibawa Project.
He was charged with committing the offences at the Prime Minister's Office, Perdana Putra Building in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021, under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009.
It carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The Pagoh MP also faces three charges of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM200 million from Bukhary Equity, which were deposited into Bersatu's AmBank and CIMB Bank accounts in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur between February 2021 and July 2022.
For those charges, he is accused under Section 4(1)(b) read together with Section 87(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for a maximum prison term of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the illegal proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
The trial before judge Noor Ruwena Nurdin continues tomorrow.
- Bernama
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