KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Testimony in the High Court today delivered a significant boost to former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as a key prosecution witness confirmed that neither Muhyiddin nor the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) ever attempted to interfere or solicit assistance for a contractor involved in a RM141 million government project under the Jana Wibawa programme.
Testifying as the 23rd prosecution witness in Muhyiddin’s ongoing trial, former Selangor Public Works Department (JKR) director Lokman Nasir, 62, told the court that he received no communications whatsoever from the then-prime minister seeking special treatment for contractor Nepturis Sdn Bhd.
During cross-examination by Muhyiddin’s lead defense counsel, Chetan Jethwani, Lokman confirmed that he operated with complete independence as the superintending officer for the North Klang District Police Headquarters (IPD Klang Utara) project starting in January 2022, devoid of any executive pressure.
When directly asked by Chetan whether he had received calls from Muhyiddin or the PMO to assist the contractor, Lokman replied firmly, “No.”
Lokman further clarified that he was not involved in the initial evaluation or selection of Nepturis Sdn Bhd, stressing that his role was strictly technical and administrative. He added that throughout his supervision of the project until his retirement in April 2024, there were no discussions or grounds to terminate the contract, with all processed interim payments strictly adhering to standard JKR contract terms without any recorded non-compliance or irregularities.
Corroborating the absence of prime ministerial influence in procurement, a second senior official, former JKR quantity surveyors’ service director Datuk Zulkipeli Yamat, testified that the selection and evaluation of contractors under the Jana Wibawa initiative were handled exclusively by the Ministry of Finance.
Zulkipeli explained that JKR merely received proposal letters from the Ministry of Finance after contractor selection decisions had already been made. He confirmed that an independent evaluation committee chaired by the Ministry of Finance—comprising representatives from JKR, the Ministry of Finance, and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage—evaluated contractor pre-qualifications, leaving final selection decisions entirely to the finance ministry.
The testimonies significantly bolster Muhyiddin’s defense that the Jana Wibawa programme was executed through proper institutional mechanisms without executive overreach or personal political gratification. The Perikatan Nasional chairman and Pagoh MP continues to maintain his innocence against seven charges involving alleged abuse of power and money laundering.
The trial before High Court Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin resumes tomorrow.
–NMT
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