KUALA LUMPUR (July 17): The company which secured a contract worth about RM141 million to build the Klang Utara district police headquarters under the Jana Wibawa programme had issued a cheque amounting to RM1 million to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Nepturis Sdn Bhd managing director Mohd Rizman Akum Khan however said that he was unsure if the sum issued in February 2022 was a form of incentive or donation.

Testifying in former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s corruption trial, the 16th prosecution witness however passed the buck to the 'financier' of his company, Lian Tian Chuan (TC Lian), when pressed further regarding the nature of the funds transferred.

The witness had stated in his statement that TC Lian asked him to prepare the cheque to Bersatu.   

Defence counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad: TC didn't inform you what [the money] was for?

Mohd Rizman: No.

Amer: I suggest to you this is not a form of gratification.

Mohd Rizman: I am not sure.

During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, the DPP asked the witness what was the difference between an incentive (imbuhan) and donation.

To this, Mohd Rizman answered: A donation is derma. An incentive may be a form of help (pertolongan) to return the favour (balas budi).

Wan Shaharuddin: Who will know if this is a donation or incentive?

Mohd Rizman: TC Lian.

During cross-examination, the 42-year-old witness also agreed with Amer Hamzah that to date, he had not reported TC Lian to the authorities for any corruption offence.

Mohd Rizman also testified that the company had dealt with cash transactions earlier and agreed with Amer Hamzah that the funds to Bersatu was not in the form of a cash cheque.

Amer Hamzah: This transaction, compared to cash transactions, was more transparent?

Mohd Rizman: Agree. 

When asked by Amer Hamzah whether Muhyiddin had directly communicated with Mohd Rizman at any point throughout the process of obtaining the project and after any progress payments, the witness answered in the negative.

The witness also affirmed that whatever communication regarding the project was between the company and the Public Works Department (PWD).

Amer Hamzah: As long as Muhyiddin had served as the PM, you never received any form of communication from Muhyiddin?

Mohd Rizman: Agree.

Amer Hamzah: Muhyiddin had never even sent his regards (kirim salam) to you?

Mohd Rizman: Agree.

Last week, Mohd Rizman's colleague, Aliza Abd Malek, who is a company director and senior procurement executive, testified that although she and Mohd Rizman each held a 50% stake in the company, TC Lian had control of Nepturis through his construction firm, Metrasys Sdn Bhd.

On Friday, Mohd Rizman clarified that in reality, he and Aliza held a 35% stake each in the company, while TC Lian held 30% through his company.

He explained that both he and Aliza had no intention of misleading the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), but rather, this was a "business strategy" they adopted.

"He will hand over Nepturis entirely to us. It’s just that at that juncture, Aliza and I needed capital support and guidance for Nepturis’ progress.

"Aliza and I have been with TC Lian for a long time, and this is a golden opportunity for us to upgrade ourselves and move forward towards a better future.”

When questioned further on this by trial judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin, the witness repeated that it was a form of business strategy to protect both companies.

Noor Ruwena: Why didn't you say that it was 35%/35%/30% stake to the SSM, straight away?

Mohd Rizman: It was just a business strategy. Even if TC Lian is showed to own 30%, the company Metrasys is a 100% non-Bumiputera company. We wanted it to be separate, because if that company goes bankrupt, it won't impact Nepturis [and vice versa].

Mohd Rizman has completed his testimony. TC Lian is slated to be one of the prosecution witnesses who will testify when the trial resumes on July 27.

In this trial, Muhyiddin, who turns 79 this year, is facing seven charges — four counts of abuse of power involving RM225.3 million in alleged gratification and three counts of money laundering involving RM200 million. He is accused of receiving bribes from businessman Datuk Azman Yusoff, 51, and three companies — including Nepturis and Mamfor Sdn Bhd — allegedly for the benefit of his political party, Bersatu.

Read also:
Jana Wibawa trial: Bumi partners only a front for real power behind contractor Nepturis, claims witness
Jana Wibawa trial: KCJ Engineering director instructed RM800,000 payment to Bersatu, says finance manager
Jana Wibawa trial: No PMO interference in RM62 mil Negeri Sembilan road project, says state PWD director