KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 17): A former Selangor Public Works Department (PWD) director told the High Court that neither Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin nor the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) interfered in the RM141 million North Klang District Police Headquarters (IPPD) project.
Lokman Nasir, who served as the superintending officer (SO) for the project starting Jan 12, 2022, testified on Monday that he had never been contacted by then-prime minister Muhyiddin or by the PMO to assist the appointed contractor, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, nor had he been involved in the initial evaluation or selection of the contractor prior to his appointment.
During cross-examination, defence counsel Chetan Jethwani questioned Lokman on whether any executive or political pressure had been exerted during his tenure overseeing the project.
Chetan: When supervising this project, [do you] agree with me that there was no interference whatsoever from the Prime Minister's Office?
Lokman: None at all.
Chetan: So, you did not meet or receive any call from him (Muhyiddin) or his office to help this contractor. Correct?
Lokman: Correct.
Payment certificates and governance
In his written witness statement, Lokman outlined the procurement background and payment structure for the project, which was funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He detailed that between February 2022 and February 2023, 13 interim payment certificates had been prepared, ranging from initial zero payouts to an advance payment voucher of RM10 million issued in February 2023.
Lokman explained that non-compliance or uncompleted work would lead to payment deductions under the PWD’s standard form contracts. However, he confirmed that no such non-compliance deductions had been recorded for the project during the period covered.
Delegated supervision and administrative role
Lokman explained that while he held overall administrative authority as the SO under the standard PWD 203A contract form, direct on-site monitoring and daily supervision were fully delegated to technical officers on the ground.
Operating out of the PWD’s headquarters, Lokman confirmed that he relied on progress reports and interim certificates submitted to him, rather than conducting in-person site evaluations.
Chetan: You were not the person who goes to site to supervise on site, correct? You were only at headquarters, at the director's office, so whatever is stated in interim certificates one to 13 is only as far as what was reported to you, correct?
Lokman: As the superintending officer, I took on the role of managing and monitoring the implementation of the project, but from the aspect of on-site supervision, it was carried out by the superintending officer's representative.
The court heard that while the 191-week contract for the IPPD project had been scheduled to run through September 2025, the interim certificates presented to Lokman during his tenure only covered up to February 2023 (Interim Certificate 13), reflecting a recorded work progress value of 6.42%.
Lokman noted that he could not testify to the current status of the project or any developments beyond his official retirement from public service on April 19, 2024.
He further clarified that while contractual non-compliance or work delays would trigger payment deductions under PWD guidelines, no such non-performance issues or penalty deductions had been recorded during the period under his supervision.
In this trial, Muhyiddin, 79, faces 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 one Datuk Azman Yusoff and three companies — including Nepturis and Mamfor Sdn Bhd — allegedly for the benefit of his political party, Bersatu.
The trial continues before judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin on Tuesday.