Former PM Muhyiddin Yassin on trial for alleged RM232 million bribes tied to Jana Wibawa projects

Former Malaysian Prime Minister and Bersatu party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is standing trial on seven corruption charges related to the government’s Jana Wibawa programme, a Covid‑19 era initiative to support Bumiputera contractors.

Prosecutors allege that Muhyiddin used his position to secure large‑scale contracts for private firms in exchange for cash payments. One witness, Lian Tan Chuan, director of Metrasys Sdn Bhd., testified that he gave RM1 million to Bersatu after being told the prime minister’s support was needed for a RM141 million project under Jana Wibawa. Another witness, Shahradzi Shamsuddin of Mamfor Sdn Bhd., said the company contributed RM19.5 million to the party to help his brother’s firm win the RM605 million Pulau Indah Ring Road Phase 3 contract. Both contributions were delivered in stages between 2021 and 2022, and the road project was awarded in October 2022.

The trial, heard in Kuala Lumpur’s High Court, focuses on whether Muhyiddin’s alleged actions constitute abuse of office and illegal gratification, with the prosecution presenting detailed accounts of the money transfers and the expected quid‑pro‑quo for project approvals.