Witness: 'I borrowed RM19.5 million from family-linked firms for Bersatu contribution'

A BUSINESSMAN told the High Court today that he borrowed RM19.5 million from two companies linked to his family to fund a contribution to Bersatu, which he later described as a “balasan” (consideration) for securing a government project.

Mamfor Sdn Bhd director Shahradzi Shamsuddin, 44, said the money was channelled to Bersatu after his younger brother’s company, Sutracom Sdn Bhd, secured a RM605.2 million Janawibawa-related project in Klang, Selangor.

He said RM13.7 million was borrowed from Sutracom, while another RM7 million came from his mother’s company, Majulia Sdn Bhd.

“I confirm the total contribution was RM19.5 million. I obtained the funds by borrowing RM13.7 million from Sutracom and RM7 million from Majulia.

“Of the RM19.5 million, I contributed RM10.5 million before Sutracom received the letter of acceptance (SST), while the remaining RM9 million was contributed after the SST was issued,” he said while reading his witness statement.

Shahradzi was testifying as the 20th prosecution witness in the trial involving former prime minister and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The witness told the court that he had prepared six letters of interest to participate in the project by using contractor licences belonging to his brother and associates, as his own company did not have the capacity to undertake the work.

The companies involved were Multi Skilled Engineering Sdn Bhd, Majulia Sdn Bhd, ANR Ventures Sdn Bhd, Sejagat Bakti Sdn Bhd, Smart Reliance Sdn Bhd and Sutracom Sdn Bhd.

He said the letters were submitted to Muhyiddin, who was the prime minister at the time, seeking his support to participate in the pre-qualification tender for the project.

According to Shahradzi, he was approached in April 2021 by businessman Datuk Azman Yusoff, who asked him to contribute to Bersatu to assist in securing the project.

“Datuk Azman informed me that the project might be successful and asked me to make an upfront contribution to Bersatu, without stating the amount,” he said.

The witness said Azman did not specify the value or percentage of the contribution, but he estimated that the amount would be around three to four per cent of the contract value.

He added that Azman also did not instruct him on whether the payment should be made through a cheque or cash.

Shahradzi said he later prepared a cheque and personally handed it to a Bersatu staff member at the party’s headquarters at Bangunan Yayasan Selangor, Petaling Jaya.

He told the court that the Works Department (JKR) issued the SST to Sutracom in October 2022 for the RM605.2 million project.

During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Shahradzi was asked about the difference between “derma” (donation) and “sumbangan” (contribution).

He explained that a donation was given without expecting anything in return, while a contribution involved an expectation of receiving something in return.

Asked whether the RM19.5 million was a donation, remuneration or consideration, Shahradzi replied: “It was consideration.”

The prosecutor then asked whether he had ever contributed such a large amount to any political party before.

“No,” he replied.

Asked what the money could have been used for if it was not given to Bersatu, Shahradzi said it could have gone towards company operations, purchasing assets, savings and settling debts.

He was also asked why he was willing to contribute such a large amount before receiving the SST.

“Based on Datuk Azman’s suggestion,” he replied.

When asked if he would have contributed even RM100 to Bersatu had Azman not made the request, Shahradzi said: “No.”During cross-examination by lawyer Chetan Jethwani, the witness said he did not know whether Muhyiddin, Bersatu officials or members of the party’s supreme council had requested the RM19.5 million contribution.

The trial before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin continues tomorrow.

Muhyiddin, 79, then prime minister and Bersatu president at the time, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM225.3 million linked to the Janawibawa programme from three companies — Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd — as well as Azman for the benefit of Bersatu.

He is alleged to have committed the offences at the Prime Minister’s Office, Perdana Putra Building in Putrajaya, between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021.

The Pagoh MP also faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in proceeds from unlawful activities from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which were deposited into Bersatu’s Ambank and CIMB Bank accounts in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur between February 2021 and July 2022. – July 27, 2026