Kuala lumpur: A businessman told the High Court today that he believed former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had a role in helping Nepturis Sdn Bhd, a company he had established, secure a project under the Jana Wibawa programme.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Metrasys Sdn Bhd director Lian Tan Chuan, 55, stated that Nepturis won the pre-qualification tender for the Klang Utara District Police Headquarters (IPD) project in Selangor on January 12, 2022, following the issuance of a Letter of Acceptance by the Public Works Department (JKR). Subsequently, on January 16, 2022, Lian directed Rizman (Mohd Rizman Akum Khan) to issue a cheque of RM1 million from Nepturis, payable to Bersatu, which he then handed over to Datuk Azman Yusoff at his office. Lian expressed that he believed Azman would pass the cheque to any Bersatu leader or bank it in.
The 21st prosecution witness, during Muhyiddin's trial, revealed that Azman, who serves as president of the Bumiputera Contractors Association and is a member of the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia, informed him that the government had approved the Jana Wibawa programme. Lian made these statements while reading his witness statement, as the former prime minister faces seven charges of abuse of power and money laundering.
During the examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Lian explained that his decision to make a RM1 million contribution to Bersatu stemmed from the project's profitability. When questioned on whether the contribution was a reward or a donation, Lian clarified that it was "consideration," asserting that consideration is given to obtain something in return, unlike a donation, which is unconditional.
Lian further testified that he made the payment at Azman's request after Nepturis secured the Jana Wibawa project through an application letter supported by Muhyiddin, then prime minister and Bersatu president. He expressed his belief that without Muhyiddin's endorsement and the Prime Minister's Office's processing of his company's application letter, Nepturis would not have passed the Ministry of Finance evaluation or been awarded the project by JKR.
The witness recounted meeting Adam Radlan, who was introduced to him by Azman in December 2020. Adam Radlan, who had close ties with Muhyiddin, advised Lian to prepare an application letter for the project on a pre-qualification basis, which was then submitted to Adam Radlan to obtain Muhyiddin's supporting minutes.
Muhyiddin, 79, faces 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 Datuk Azman Yusoff in connection with the Jana Wibawa project. These offenses allegedly occurred at the Prime Minister's Office, Putrajaya, between March 1, 2020, and August 20, 2021, under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009. He also faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in unlawful proceeds from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, deposited into Bersatu's bank accounts, allegedly between February 2021 and July 2022. These charges fall under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The trial before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin resumes tomorrow.