KUALA LUMPUR – The Finance Ministry would often send a list of contractors to the Public Works Department (PWD) to consider appointing for construction projects under the Jana Wibawa programme, the sessions court here was told today.
PWD’s former senior director of the Contract and Material Measurement Department (CKUB), Datuk Zulikepli Yamat, said that this is usually conveyed through a letter.
The practice, he added, started subsequent to a meeting convened at the Finance Ministry’s headquarters on December 8, 2020.
The meeting was also attended by PWD’s director-general, Datuk Seri Zulkefly Sulaiman, to coordinate the Jana Wibawa implementation programme at that time.
Zulikepli, who is the seventh prosecution witness in the corruption and money laundering case involving Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, added that there are two types of contract procurement for contractors under the Jana Wibawa programme: direct negotiation and pre-qualification tender award.
He also outlined the steps for PWD to appoint a company for the project through a pre-qualification tender award under the programme.
“For the pre-qualification tender award, the selected contractors will receive their letter of appointment. Subsequently, CKUB will issue a letter of invitation to the selected contractors, arranging briefing sessions and site visits before these companies submit their price offers.
“The price offers will then be sent to the Public Works Ministry’s property management and acquisition branch (CCPH) for consideration.
“After a contractor is selected and approved by CCPH and the Finance Ministry, my department (CKUB) will then prepare several documents, including a letter of acceptance and the appointment of a project supervisor,” he said when reading out his witness statement.
He explained that after the selected company’s signing of the letter of acceptance, CKUB will proceed to draft a contract for the project.
Following this, the project will be overseen and managed by PWD’s road branch office, he added.
However, today’s trial before judge Rozina Ayob was cut short as the prosecution needed additional time to collect their documents.
The proceedings before Rozina will resume tomorrow.
Zulikepli was one of the 50 witnesses for the prosecution, providing testimony against the Tasek Gelugor MP.
Wan Saiful faces two charges of soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to RM6.9 million from an individual named Lian Tan Chuan, involving the Jana Wibawa project.
The sum was said to be an inducement for him to help a company named Nepturis Sdn Bhd secure the Central Spine Road: Sertik East Coast Motorway Interchange project from the government that is worth RM232 million.
He also faces another 18 money laundering charges involving RM5.59 million, including paying for the purchase of a Ford Ranger, payments to the Malaysian National Sports Council, and transferring money to several companies, including Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd. – May 20, 2024