Kuala lumpur: The High Court was told today that RM24.4 million had been paid to an engineering and construction company for the project to build a new road linking Felda Bukit Jalor to Gemas. Negeri Sembilan Public Works Department (JKR) director Datuk Wan Hasnan Wan Musa, 51, stated that the Malaysian government had accepted KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd's tender worth RM62 million for the project, with a contract period of 34 months.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wan Hasnan, who served as the Superintending Officer for the project, confirmed that the project commenced on December 22, 2021. The trial concerns former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces seven charges of abuse of power and money laundering.
Previously, former finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz testified that KCJ Engineering was among 54 companies proposed by the then prime minister to undertake projects under the Jana Wibawa programme through direct negotiation. Wan Hasnan confirmed that payments totaling RM24.4 million were made through 10 transactions between May 26, 2022, and February 15, 2023, into KCJ Engineering's bank account.
He also confirmed a payment voucher dated May 26, 2022, for RM10 million as an advance payment for the road project. He stated that this payment was made under the contract for the project to build a new road linking Felda Bukit Jalor to Gemas.
Meanwhile, Wan Hasnan also confirmed that three recommended payments totaling RM4.7 million for the same project were not made to the main contractor due to insufficient allocation. At an earlier hearing, it was revealed that RM800,000 was deposited into Bersatu's account by KCJ Engineering on September 1, 2022.
When inquired about the project's progress, Wan Hasnan said it was expected to be fully completed by the end of July, with several portions completed and progress reported monthly. The witness also agreed that the Prime Minister's Office did not interfere with payments to KCJ Engineering.
Muhyiddin faces four charges of obtaining RM225.3 million in bribes for his party from three companies and an individual in connection with the Jana Wibawa project. He is alleged to have committed the offences between March 1, 2020, and August 20, 2021.
Additionally, Muhyiddin faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in proceeds from unlawful activities, deposited into Bersatu's bank accounts between February 2021 and July 2022. The trial before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin continues tomorrow.