Breaking
DRC Ebola death toll hits record 2,325 as WHO shifts containment strategyPrime minister has no power to award projects, court told in Muhyiddin graft trialNZX names Hishaam Mirza CEO as board eyes growth pushVolvo EX90 SUV to hit 0-100 km/h in 4.2 secondsLagenda Properties posts record first-half profit on strong Johor salesLagenda Properties Bhd posts record first-half revenue as net profit rises 12.2%Wealth creation, asset ownership key to Malaysia’s future prosperity, Bursa CEO saysBursa Malaysia dips at midday as regional peers slidePULAPAS issues statement on price offer for upgrading training complex roof at southern regional civil defence centreStrategic Collaboration between Netherlands Maritime University College (NMUC) and Asia AeroTechnic Sdn Bhd (AAT)Netherlands Maritime University College receives Mini ROV, including BlueROV system, from Cornerstone Offshore Sdn. Bhd. for NMUC Kota Masai workshop.Woman livestreams barefoot protest at KLIA, police investigatingZizi Kirana receives message from wife asking to become her husband.Civilian toll rises as Israeli strikes intensify in southern LebanonThree families killed in suspected hit-and-run, Malaysian police launch manhunt for AnwarAbang Sebak Pays Tribute to Late Father After Adam Nazmie Named Runner-Up - "Dad Must Be Happy...Bursa Malaysia slides despite 6% Q2 GDP beat as investors eye earningsStudent loan abolition plan unveiled by PKR Youth chiefKDM’s withdrawal from GRS risks loss of power, say analystsUSS Abraham Lincoln’s record deployment sparks US lawmaker probe into Navy readinessDRC Ebola death toll hits record 2,325 as WHO shifts containment strategyPrime minister has no power to award projects, court told in Muhyiddin graft trialNZX names Hishaam Mirza CEO as board eyes growth pushVolvo EX90 SUV to hit 0-100 km/h in 4.2 secondsLagenda Properties posts record first-half profit on strong Johor salesLagenda Properties Bhd posts record first-half revenue as net profit rises 12.2%Wealth creation, asset ownership key to Malaysia’s future prosperity, Bursa CEO saysBursa Malaysia dips at midday as regional peers slidePULAPAS issues statement on price offer for upgrading training complex roof at southern regional civil defence centreStrategic Collaboration between Netherlands Maritime University College (NMUC) and Asia AeroTechnic Sdn Bhd (AAT)Netherlands Maritime University College receives Mini ROV, including BlueROV system, from Cornerstone Offshore Sdn. Bhd. for NMUC Kota Masai workshop.Woman livestreams barefoot protest at KLIA, police investigatingZizi Kirana receives message from wife asking to become her husband.Civilian toll rises as Israeli strikes intensify in southern LebanonThree families killed in suspected hit-and-run, Malaysian police launch manhunt for AnwarAbang Sebak Pays Tribute to Late Father After Adam Nazmie Named Runner-Up - "Dad Must Be Happy...Bursa Malaysia slides despite 6% Q2 GDP beat as investors eye earningsStudent loan abolition plan unveiled by PKR Youth chiefKDM’s withdrawal from GRS risks loss of power, say analystsUSS Abraham Lincoln’s record deployment sparks US lawmaker probe into Navy readiness
Economy

Prime minister has no power to award projects, court told in Muhyiddin graft trial

The High Court heard that Malaysia’s prime minister has no legal authority to decide whether a government project is awarded through pre-qualification or direct negotiations, according to procurement rules.

Source: The Star Malaysia · August 19, 2026 at 9:02 AM · AI-assisted report

Single-source
Prime minister has no power to award projects, court told in Muhyiddin graft trial
Image: thestar.com.my

PUTRAJAYA, 19 AUGUST 2026 —

Listen to this article

DomainFork Audio · read aloud

The High Court heard that Malaysia’s prime minister has no legal authority to decide whether a government project is awarded through pre-qualification or direct negotiations, according to procurement rules.

Market Impact

Datuk Zamzuri Abdul Aziz, deputy secretary-general of the Treasury (policy), told the court on Wednesday that authority for such decisions rests with the Finance Ministry, not the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Legally, the Prime Minister has no power under existing government procurement regulations to order any project to be awarded via direct negotiations,” Zamzuri said during cross-examination in the graft trial of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the authority to determine procurement methods lies within the Finance Ministry’s jurisdiction, not the Prime Minister.

Zamzuri, a former undersecretary in the government procurement division, is the 26th prosecution witness in the RM2.5 billion Jana Wibawa programme trial. The case centres on a RM3.49 million road contract awarded to KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan.

The company is accused of contributing RM800,000 to Bersatu in exchange for the award.

Zamzuri told deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin that KCJ Engineering initially failed its preliminary assessment by the Jana Wibawa contractor assessment committee.

“If a company fails the assessment, it would not be approved or considered,” he said.

He added that the Prime Minister’s Office submitted additional information via a letter dated Nov 13, 2020, prompting the committee to reassess the company. The letter was addressed to then-finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

“The letter contained a minute instructing me to take action, which was to assess KCJ Engineering,” Zamzuri said. “If the PMO had not mentioned KCJ Engineering in that letter, the committee would not have assessed the company.”

He said the Public Works Department would not have awarded the contract without Finance Ministry approval.

Muhyiddin, 79, faces four counts of abuse of power related to RM225.3 million allegedly received from four companies and an individual—Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, KCJ Engineering Sdn Bhd, and Datuk Azman Yusoff—between March 2020 and August 2021. He also faces three counts of money laundering, involving RM200 million deposited into Bersatu’s accounts between February 2021 and July 2022.

The trial continues before Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin on Thursday.

Related: Prime Minister · Putrajaya

Reporting based on The Star Malaysia. Figures and claims are subject to revision as the story develops. DomainFork publishes editorial context, not investment advice — see our editorial standards.