Minutes from Muhyiddin as PM required consideration, says Tengku Zafrul

PETALING JAYA: Former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that minutes issued by then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the Jana Wibawa programme were directives that required consideration and follow-up action, but were not orders to approve specific projects.

Bernama reported Tengku Zafrul, 53, as saying that based on his experience as finance minister, minutes from the prime minister were directives that warranted attention.

“Otherwise, the government’s machinery would not be able to function. However, taking action does not mean we have to do something improper,” he said during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin at the trial of Muhyiddin, who is facing seven charges of abuse of power and money laundering.

The 11th prosecution witness emphasised that Muhyiddin’s minutes were given due consideration but did not automatically result in the approval of any project.

Earlier, while reading his witness statement, Tengku Zafrul referred to minutes written by Muhyiddin on letters of support involving five companies in connection with the Klang Utara police headquarters project in Selangor.

The companies were MZ Hakujaya Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Fastcoll Corporation Sdn Bhd, Permata Rebana Sdn Bhd and JM Letrik Sdn Bhd.

Asked by Wan Shaharuddin whether he would disregard a matter if the prime minister had specifically directed that it need not be considered, Tengku Zafrul replied in the affirmative.

“Yes. If he had issued a directive stating that the matter did not require consideration, we certainly would not have taken it up for consideration,” he said.

Jana Wibawa contractors evaluated by PMO

According to the New Straits Times, Tengku Zafrul’s former senior private secretary Wan Murtadza Wan Mahmud, 52, today detailed how a letter dated Nov 13, 2020 from Muhyiddin, recommending 54 contractors for 54 Jana Wibawa projects, was processed by the finance ministry.

He said the letter was first referred to Tengku Zafrul, who added a minute instructing the government procurement division to take immediate action. Wan Murtadza was then told to forward it to the division.

Wan Murtadza said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) later sent the profiles of all 54 proposed companies in stages, which he forwarded, together with the companies’ letters of interest, to the procurement division for evaluation.

However, he said he was unaware of how the PMO had evaluated the companies, adding that the PMO also determined which projects would be awarded to each company.

“I can also confirm that the companies listed in this document were selected by the PMO, not by the finance ministry at the material time,” he said.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin, 79, is charged with four counts of abusing his position to solicit RM225.3 million in bribes from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis, Mamfor Sdn Bhd and Azman Yusoff, allegedly for Bersatu.

The offences were allegedly committed at the PMO between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.

Muhyiddin 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 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 Judge Noor Ruwena Nurdin resumes tomorrow.