KUALA LUMPUR (July 10): Contractors involved in the Jana Wibawa programme, established to assist Bumiputera contractors impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, were vetted and assessed by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) before further screening at the respective ministries.

This applies even to the list of companies allegedly suggested by the Prime Minister’s Office led by then-prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Former MOF government procurement division deputy secretary Rosni Mohd Yusoff told the Sessions Court this on Wednesday, where she was testifying in the ongoing trial of former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s corruption and money-laundering trial.

Rosni, who had been the chairman of MOF’s contractor evaluation commission at the material time, testified that the committee would screen companies listed for direct negotiation or pre-qualification. She said that the panel would then forward their recommendation to the then-finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

Defence counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad: The screening process of the list of contractors [...] from the [then-prime minister], the selection of contractors will be made by the [MOF] committee?

Rosni: Yes.

Amer: When there is a list of contractors given to the committee, regardless [of] direct negotiation or pre-qualification, your committee will do screening and assessment?

Rosni: Correct. But the list of contractors had notes minuted by the [then] PM.

The prosecution’s third witness said that there were three requirements that the companies would have to fulfil: they had to be Bumiputera owned; have three- to five stars’ score per Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB); and have technical abilities to see the projects through.

The commission would vet the companies and should they fall short of the predetermined requirements, they would indicate that to the Minister of Finance.

She testified that the final decision on the selection would be done by the Minister of Finance, following discussions with the PM’s Office.

However, when pressed by Amer if she had proof of such discussions, the witness said that she had no documents to back up her claim.

Amer: If we look at the chain of events [...], we can draw the conclusion that the party responsible for the contractor and project selection is the MOF.

Rosni: Disagree. The final decision on company selection is made by the Finance Minister after discussing with the PM’s Office.

Amer: You have anything to support what you are saying just now?

Rosni: I don’t have any documents to support [my statement].

Wan Saiful is charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 with soliciting bribes to help Nepturis Sdn Bhd secure a Central Spine Road project from the federal government through pre-qualification in April 2022.

On the second charge, the Tasek Gelugor Member of Parliament is charged under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act with receiving RM6.96 million through his company’s account from Nepturis, as an inducement to help the company secure a letter of award for the same project.

The offences were allegedly committed between July 8 and Sept 30 in 2022.

Both charges under the MACC Act are punishable under Section 24 of the Act, and carry a sentence of up to 20 years in jail, and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Wan Saiful also faces 18 charges of money-laundering, amounting to RM5.594 million.

The trial before Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob continues on Aug 8, with the continued cross-examination of Rosni.