By V. Anbalagan | Free Malaysia Today


Bukit Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan is accused of taking bribes from contractors to secure Jana Wibawa projects.

The Jana Wibawa programme, which acted as a COVID-19 stimulus initiative to help Bumiputera contractors, only took off after obtaining Cabinet approval, the sessions court heard in the corruption trial of Bukit Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan today.

Former finance ministry procurement division deputy secretary Rosni Yusoff also said during cross-examination by lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad that the proposal came from the finance ministry to then Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Amer: As I understand, there was a proposal from the then Finance Minister (Tengku Zafrul Aziz) to Muhyiddin, and it was recorded in writing that he would consider it.

Rosni: Agree.

Rosni, the third prosecution witness, was then shown a letter dated July 23, 2020, from Tengku Zafrul, which Amer said included a brief note from Muhyiddin dated Aug 3, 2020, that he agreed with the proposal.

Rosni concurred with the lawyer that the proposal was then brought to a Cabinet meeting.

Amer: The Cabinet considered the proposal and decided to give the go-ahead on Nov 13, 2020.

Rosni: Agree.

Amer: So, based on the series of events, the Jana Wibawa programme could only take off after approval by the Cabinet.

Rosni: Agree.

Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN)-led government was in power from March 1, 2020, to Aug 16, 2021.

He resigned after UMNO MPs revolted and withdrew their support for him.

Wan Saiful, the former Bersatu information chief, is accused of soliciting bribes from Lian Tan Chuan as an inducement to help Nepturis Sdn Bhd secure the RM232 million Central Spine Road-Sertik to East Coast Highway Interchange project from the former PN government at the pre-qualification stage.

He is also accused of accepting RM6.96 million in cash through his company WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd’s CIMB bank account from a Maybank Islamic account belonging to Nepturis as a reward for helping the company obtain a letter of acceptance for the project.

Both offences were allegedly committed in Kuala Lumpur, at the Royal Lake Club, Taman Tasik Perdana in April 2022, and CIMB’s Bukit Tunku branch in Taman Tunku, Bukit Tunku, between July 8 and Sept 30, 2022.

Wan Saiful is also charged with 18 counts of laundering RM5.59 million by transferring and using the illegal proceeds to pay for the purchase of a vehicle, making payments to the National Sports Council, as well as transferring money to several company accounts, including one belonging to Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd.

The hearing before trial judge Rozina Ayob continues.


Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/04/29/jana-wibawa-programme-started-after-cabinet-approval-says-witness/