The High Court heard testimony today that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) did not interfere in government payments made to KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd for a project under the Jana Wibawa initiative. Datuk Wan Hasnan Wan Musa, the Negeri Sembilan director of the Public Works Department (JKR), testified as the 17th prosecution witness in the ongoing power abuse and money laundering trial of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. The project in question involved the construction of a new road linking Felda Bukit Jalor to Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, valued at RM62 million.
During cross-examination by the defence, Wan Hasnan confirmed that payments to the contractor were based strictly on project progress and standard departmental assessments. He stated that between March 2022 and February 2023, the government issued over RM24.3 million to the company, which included interim payments and a RM10 million advance payment. The witness clarified that such advance payments are permissible under JKR guidelines, capped at 25 per cent or a maximum of RM10 million, provided the department has the necessary budget allocation.
Wan Hasnan further testified that there was no external pressure regarding the project's timeline or extensions. He noted that while the project was originally scheduled for completion within 34 months, JKR granted an extension of time based on its own internal evaluations. The testimony serves as part of the broader legal proceedings examining the administration of the Jana Wibawa programme, a government initiative launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to support Bumiputera contractors. The court continues to review evidence regarding the selection and payment processes for various projects linked to the programme.