Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Contractors told to donate to Bersatu for government projects, court hears
A Malaysian businessman has testified that contractors seeking Jana Wibawa infrastructure projects were directed to make financial contributions to the Bersatu party. The claim was presented as evidence in an ongoing court case involving political funding arrangements.
LSN Malaysia ·
Azman Yusoff told the court that he felt a sense of obligation to former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin following assistance provided to Bumiputera contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to testimony delivered during proceedings on Tuesday.
The businessman's account suggests that contractors bidding for Jana Wibawa projects—a government infrastructure initiative—were encouraged to channel donations to Bersatu, the political party led by Muhyiddin. The testimony forms part of evidence being examined regarding the intersection of government procurement and party funding mechanisms.
Yusoff's statement underscores allegations that access to lucrative government contracts may have been contingent upon financial support to the ruling coalition's component parties. Such arrangements, if substantiated, would raise questions about the separation between government resources and political party fundraising.
The Jana Wibawa programme, launched to support Bumiputera-owned construction and engineering enterprises, distributed substantial contracts during the pandemic period when many businesses faced acute financial pressures. The court proceedings are examining whether the distribution of these opportunities was influenced by political considerations rather than merit-based criteria alone.