PETALING JAYA: Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says he was called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in their investigation into the Jana Wibawa Covid-19 stimulus aid but that he is not a suspect in their probe.
Muhyiddin said that Jana Wibawa, a package meant to aid Bumiputera contractors, was carried out by the Finance Ministry. He added that the anti-graft agency might call former Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz in for questioning as well.
Stating that the project was proposed by Tengku Zafrul, who was then the Finance Minister, Muhyiddin said he agreed to it as Bumiputera contractors and vendors were among those most severely impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If we didn’t provide help, a large number of them would have had to close. The idea came from (Tengku) Zafrul, and I agreed to it. It was then brought to the Cabinet and approved,” he said.
He added that the Finance Ministry had the authority to decide which contractors would be included in the programme, and that the Prime Minister’s Office’s (PMO) role was just to facilitate it.
“The approvals were not up to me. It’s important for me to state this.”
He said MACC officers told him that he was not a suspect in their investigation and that he was merely called in “several days ago” to explain certain issues related to Jana Wibawa.
“I was called in specifically (to answer questions) about Jana Wibawa. Not (for an investigation into) RM600 billion, RM530 billion, RM86 billion or RM4.5 billion,” Muhyiddin said.
“Maybe they will call (Tengku) Zafrul. That is up to them if they want to get an explanation.”
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that projects under the Jana Wibawa stimulus package were among those that his administration had identified as involving costs that were “too high” and did not go through a tender process.
Jana Wibawa was also in the news on Wednesday when deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the finance ministry had ordered a project to be postponed and reviewed to check whether its procurement procedure was in compliance with rules set by the Treasury.
In a Bernama report, he said the postponement – which involves a project valued at RM5.7 billion – was required as there were elements of selective tender or direct negotiation in the procurement process.
Muhyiddin said that then Treasury secretary-general Asri Hamidin suggested that the PMO process Jana Wibawa applications, a proposal which Muhyiddin shot down.
“The Treasury chief at the time, Asri, suggested to my office that we process these applications but I refused,’ Muhyiddin said.
“It is as if he wanted to give the PMO the authority. I was afraid and said that I don’t like to do that. I said that’s not the PMO’s job. It’s a job that should be done by the finance ministry or other responsible agencies.
“What did this have to do with me? Nothing. My job was only to channel (the aid).”
Muhyiddin also vowed legal action against those who insinuate that he is corrupt. He stressed he did not take a single sen from the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines. He said that the claims were meant to tarnish his name and those making accusations should prove it.
“The Public Accounts Committee has looked into the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines but there are some who intend to go further and connect my name to bribery,” said Muhyiddin.
“I have been with the government for 50 years – I never had cases of misuse of power or bribery. I follow the rules. I hold on to the law and I have principles.
“I was also once the Prime Minister. Such insinuations should not have been made.
“I am also the Perikatan Nasional chairman and I know this is a political ploy so that the people are angered and think of me as a thief, a liar and that I had abused my authority.
“If I had misused my power, all the provisions (for contracts and as such) were under the authority of the Finance Ministry.
“Even if I had approved it then, it would not be valid as I did not have the authority to do so.
“Those who donated to party funds were those who supported our struggle and those who believed what Perikatan stands for. It had nothing to do with Jana Wibawa (program under the Finance Ministry),” said Muhyiddin.
MACC had frozen the accounts of Bersatu in the course of investigating allegations that the party had received funds from contractors chosen under the Jana Wibawa programme during Muhyiddin’s tenure as the eighth Prime Minister.
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