The Kuala Lumpur High Court was told today that the RM25.3 million deposited into Bersatu’s accounts by individuals and companies did not constitute political donations, but were payments in return for securing projects under the Jana Wibawa programme.
MACC investigating officer Mazery Zaini, 42, said the transactions were made between Sept 22, 2021, and Nov 22, 2022, by KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd, its director Azman Yusoff, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, and Sutracom Sdn Bhd.
“Upon reviewing Bersatu’s bank accounts, I found that individuals and companies that had obtained Jana Wibawa projects had channelled funds into the party’s accounts, which were controlled by the accused (former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin).
“I did not find any contribution receipts issued by Bersatu to the four companies or to Azman,” he said.
Mazery, who serves as chief of Investigation Branch B at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, was testifying as the 29th prosecution witness in the trial of Muhyiddin, who faces seven charges of abuse of power and money laundering in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme.
The witness testified that an examination of the timeline, witness accounts and documentary evidence showed that the payments were not political contributions but were instead directly connected to Muhyiddin, the prime minister at the time, helping the companies secure the projects.
“The investigation also revealed that the funds deposited by these companies were neither political donations nor coincidental, but were instead payments made in return for the accused’s help to secure the projects.
“It bears a direct nexus to the accused and demonstrates that the payments were not merely political contributions, but rather consideration given after the projects were obtained, even after the accused was no longer prime minister,” he said.
‘Not a request, but a directive’
On the project procurement process, Mazery said that while the final award of projects remained subject to the evaluation and approval process of the Finance Ministry and the Public Works Department, Muhyiddin’s issuance of letters and the recording of minutes had paved the way for the companies in question to be considered.
“Based on a review of the letters and minutes issued by Muhyiddin, as well as the subsequent action taken by the Finance Ministry, the content of those letters was not merely a request for consideration, but rather constituted an administrative directive that prompted further action by the ministry, ultimately leading to the companies being awarded the projects,” he said.
According to Mazery, the three companies eventually received letters of acceptance. KCJ Engineering secured a project to build a new road connecting Felda Bukit Jalor to Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, valued at RM62 million.
Nepturis secured a project for the Klang Utara district police headquarters in Selangor, valued at RM141 million, while Sutracom, which shares the same ownership as Mamfor, secured the Phase 3 construction and upgrade of the Pulau Indah Ring Road Phase 3, valued at RM605.217 million.
The witness said testimony from the owners and representatives of the companies also confirmed that the contributions to Bersatu were made because their companies had successfully secured Jana Wibawa projects, and would not have been made if the projects were not awarded to them.
Meanwhile, Mazery said the investigation revealed that Muhyiddin had abused his power as prime minister at the time by assisting the four companies, specifically by directing the finance minister to process their applications.
When asked by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin why Mazery characterised Muhyiddin’s actions as an abuse of power, the witness replied: “Because his actions at the time amounted to directing the Finance Ministry to assist the companies that had applied for and successfully obtained the projects, and which subsequently made contributions to Bersatu.”
Abuse of power, money laundering charges
Muhyiddin, 79, who is the Bersatu president, was charged with four counts of abuse of power for allegedly soliciting RM232.5 million in bribes for the political party from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, and Azman in connection with the Jana Wibawa project.
He was accused of committing the offence at the Prime Minister's Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra, Putrajaya between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021, under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The Pagoh MP also faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in unlawful proceeds from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which were deposited into Bersatu’s Ambank and CIMB Bank accounts, allegedly committed in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur between February 2021 and July 2022.
These charges were brought under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of either five times the value of the proceeds from unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
The trial before judge Noor Ruwena Nurdin resumes tomorrow.
- Bernama
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