Construction director donated RM19.5 million to Bersatu, court hears

The managing director of a construction firm told the High Court that he donated RM19.5 million to the Bersatu party. Shahradzi Shamsuddin, 44, testified that the contribution was made after his brother's company, Sutracom Sdn Bhd, received a letter of award for the Pulau Indah road construction project under the Jana Wibawa program.

Shahradzi stated that businessman Datuk Azman Yusoff contacted him in July 2021, requesting a donation to Bersatu. In return, Azman allegedly promised to help Sutracom secure the project. Shahradzi complied, believing the request was linked to the fact that Sutracom, his brother's company, had already received a support minute from then-Prime Minister and Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the project.

While Azman did not specify a donation amount, Shahradzi estimated a contribution of three to four percent of the contract value. He explained that he opted to pay via bank drafts for transparency, ensuring the checks had sufficient funds. He admitted the RM19.5 million was a significant sum and that he had not made such large donations to political parties before.

Shahradzi made the donations, totaling RM19.5 million, in installments. RM10.5 million was given before Sutracom received the letter of award, and the remaining RM9 million was contributed afterward. He handed over the checks at the Bersatu party office in Petaling Jaya but could not recall the specific party employees who received them, as different individuals handled the transactions each time. When questioned by the deputy public prosecutor, Shahradzi confirmed the RM19.5 million was a "donation," not a bribe or reward.