FORMER prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin did not interfere in the process of evaluating or awarding projects under the Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputera Berwibawa (Jana Wibawa) programme, the High Court heard today.
Former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz agreed during cross-examination that there was no intervention by Muhyiddin in the contractor assessment process carried out under the programme.
Tengku Zafrul, the 11th prosecution witness was responding to questions from defence counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, who asked whether the then prime minister then had influenced the evaluation process conducted by the Jana Wibawa Contractor Evaluation Committee.
Tengku Zafrul said the committee was responsible for assessing contractors and submitting recommendations, while final approval decisions were made by the Ministry of Finance.
Amer Hamzah: "In the process you described, was there any intervention by the prime minister?"
Tengku Zafrul: "Based on my knowledge, there was none."
The court was also told that KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd, a company alleged to have contributed RM800,000 to Bersatu, initially failed the Finance Ministry’s evaluation for a Jana Wibawa project before later securing a RM62 million contract.
Tengku Zafrul said KCJ Engineering failed its first assessment but passed a second evaluation after additional information was submitted through the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
He said the company was subsequently recommended for the project following a decision by the committee during its meeting on 26 February 2021.
According to Tengku Zafrul, KCJ Engineering was among 54 companies proposed by Muhyiddin, who was prime minister at the time, through a letter dated 13 November 2020 for projects under the Jana Wibawa programme through direct negotiation.
He said the company was initially proposed for a RM100 million road construction project linking Felda Bukit Jalor to Gemas in Negeri Sembilan.
However, following further information provided through the PMO, the company underwent another assessment and was found to have met the required criteria.
During further questioning, Tengku Zafrul agreed that there was nothing suspicious about the evaluation process carried out by the committee, stressing that the same procedure was applied to other companies and was not limited to KCJ Engineering.
He also agreed that meeting minutes were not instructions and acknowledged receiving numerous minutes from Muhyiddin.
The witness was referred to a document titled "Proposal for the Appointment of 54 Implementing Contractors for the Implementation of 54 Projects Under the Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputera Berwibawa (Jana Wibawa) Programme Through Direct Negotiation (Design and Build)", which contained the list of proposed contractors.
Tengku Zafrul added that no evidence had been presented by the prosecution showing that Muhyiddin had any personal or financial interest in the companies involved.
When asked whether the projects could have been implemented solely by a minister without approval from higher authorities, Tengku Zafrul replied, "Yes."
He said the Jana Wibawa programme was introduced as part of economic stimulus efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to generate employment opportunities and support affected contractors.
Tengku Zafrul said contractors had been "severely affected" during the crisis and that government assistance would create a "trickle-down effect" for the broader economy.
"You could see the problems faced by the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Bumiputera businesses and contractors, as well as the entire ecosystem.
"Based on those interests and concerns, that was why we proposed Jana Wibawa," he said.
Previously, Tengku Zafrul told the court that Muhyiddin had issued a recommendation letter proposing the appointment of 54 contractors for 54 projects under the Jana Wibawa programme through direct negotiation.
He confirmed that the list of 54 companies did not originate from him or the Ministry of Finance.
Tengku Zafrul also said he was unaware whether any of the companies proposed by Muhyiddin had personal links or interests involving the former prime minister, as no such information had been disclosed to him.
The trial before High Court Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin will continue tomorrow. - July 7, 2026
