FORMER Finance Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, told the High Court today that every minute (note) from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin regarding the Jana Wibawa Project is considered an instruction that needs to be taken into account and considered seriously.
Tengku Zafrul, 53, when answering questions from Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin during the re-examination session, said this was because Muhyiddin was a superior officer, namely the prime minister at the time.
"Usually, in my experience as a minister, a minute from the prime minister is an order that we need to take action on. Otherwise, the government administration will not be able to function, right?
"However, taking action does not mean we have to do something wrong," he said.
Tengku Zafrul, in his previous statement, said there was a note in Muhyiddin's minute in the cover letter for five companies regarding the Klang Utara District Police Headquarters Project, Selangor.
He said, based on the minute, the companies listed had to be procured through pre-qualification by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Works Department (JKR).
He said the letter stated five companies, namely MZ Hakujaya Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Fastcoll Corporation Sdn Bhd, Permata Rebana Sdn Bhd and JM Letrik Sdn Bhd.
Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul explained that in the case of Jana Wibawa, all minutes from him and from officials require follow-up action, and it may be followed up with recommendations.
He said that the recommendations are sometimes agreed upon and sometimes disagreed upon.
"So, in this case, his (Muhyiddin's) minutes are to instruct me and the Ministry of Finance to consider the matter, but not an instruction to approve it," he said.
Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul was also referring to his previous testimony that if the Prime Minister gave minutes and there was no need to consider, then he would not consider it.
Tengku Zafrul replied, "Yes, if he gave minutes (notes) that did not need to be considered, of course, we would not take the matter for consideration."
Tengku Zafrul was also referred to a letter of recommendation from Muhyiddin containing a list of names of 54 contractors for the implementation of 54 projects under the Jana Wibawa Programme through direct negotiations.
He explained that although the prime minister did not have the legal authority to approve the procurement method, nothing was stopping him from making recommendations.
He said recommendations could be made by anyone and did not necessarily have to be followed by the Ministry of Finance.
"The prime minister did not have the authority to approve.
"Anyone can make a recommendation. Approval is a different matter," he said.
Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul's former Senior Private Secretary, Datuk Wan Murtadza Wan Mahmud, gave evidence on how a letter dated November 13, 2020, from Muhyiddin recommending 54 contractors for 54 Jana Wibawa projects was processed by the Ministry of Finance.
The 12th prosecution witness said the letter was first referred to Tengku Zafrul, who noted in the minutes, "SBPK, please take immediate action," before instructing him to forward the letter to the Government Procurement Division.
Wan Murtadza said that after that, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) sent the profiles of all 54 proposed companies in stages.
He then submitted the document, together with a letter of interest from the companies involved, to the Government Procurement Division for evaluation.
However, the witness said he did not know how the PMO selected the companies or matched them to specific projects.
"The companies listed in the document were recommended by the PMO and not the Ministry of Finance," he said.
Wan Murtadza said several of the 54 companies recommended by the PMO ultimately failed to pass the Ministry of Finance's assessment process under the Jana Wibawa Programme.
The trial before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin continues tomorrow. – July 8, 2026
