Was Muhyiddin just a rubber stamp in Bersatu, DPP asks

Bersatu president and former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin faces seven charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme, a government initiative introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist Bumiputera contractors. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin's corruption trial today pressed a Bersatu witness on the party president’s role in the management committee responsible for overseeing donations.Bersatu senior financial officer Zulhelmi Zaulkafly, 34, testified in the High Court here that cheques for donations were tabled before the management committee, which comprised then treasurer-general Salleh Bajuri and chaired by then deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu.During examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Jumaat into which party bank account the donations were deposited into, Zulhelmi said the funds were deposited into Bersatu's CIMB account.He said the account required two signatories, with the treasurer-general's signature being mandatory, while the second signatory had to be either the president or the deputy president.When another deputy public prosecutor, Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, asked Zulhelmi to explain the functions of the management committee, the witness said it handled administrative matters involving the party's divisions and branches, as well as financial affairs.Wan Shaharuddin then asked what role Muhyiddin played in the management committee.Zulhelmi paused for several moments and appeared to struggle to answer.Wan Shaharuddin: As president, what was Muhyiddin's role in the management committee? Was he just a mere rubber stamp?Zulhelmi: Wait, I can't find the words.Wan Shaharuddin: My question is simple.

What was Muhyiddin's role in this management committee?Zulhelmi: He supervised.During cross-examination by defence counsel Chetan Jethwani, Zulhelmi agreed that no individual had exclusive control over Bersatu's financial affairs.Chetan: So, financial control in Bersatu was shared among people, namely the treasurer-general, the president and the deputy president?Zulhelmi: That is right.Chetan: And no one had exclusive control over the party's financial affairs?Zulhelmi: None.Muhyiddin, 79, faces seven charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme, a government initiative introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist Bumiputera contractors.The Bersatu president is charged wi…