What role did businessman Datuk Azman Yusoff play in the donation?

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Businessman Datuk Azman Yusoff Facilitated a Political Donation in Exchange for Project Assistance

Businessman Datuk Azman Yusoff played a pivotal role in a transaction where Mamfor Sdn Bhd managing director Shahradzi Shamsuddin was asked to donate to the political party Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in 2021. Yusoff allegedly offered to assist Sutracom Sdn Bhd, the company of Shahradzi's younger brother, in securing a RM605.2 million government project under the Jana Wibawa programme in return for this financial contribution. This arrangement was communicated by Yusoff to Shahradzi via telephone in April or May of 2021, with Yusoff suggesting that the project had a potential for success, thereby linking the donation to the project's award.
Request for Donation Linked to Project Award

Datuk Azman Yusoff directly contacted Shahradzi Shamsuddin to request a financial contribution to Bersatu, explicitly stating that he would facilitate Sutracom Sdn Bhd's acquisition of a government project. Yusoff implied that the donation was a prerequisite for the project's success, which was part of the Jana Wibawa programme. While Yusoff did not specify a precise donation amount, industry discussions led Shahradzi to estimate a contribution of three to four percent of the contract's value.
Facilitation of Funds Transfer

Following Yusoff's request, Shahradzi arranged for a total donation of RM19.5 million to Bersatu through cheque payments. This sum was disbursed in two tranches: RM10.5 million prior to the project's award and RM9 million after it was secured in October 2022. To meet the donation requirement, Shahradzi had to borrow significant amounts, including RM7 million from his mother's company and RM13.772 million from his brother's company, Sutracom. Shahradzi chose to use cheques for the transactions, deeming it a more transparent method as Yusoff had not specified the donation mechanism. He personally delivered these cheques, issued by Mamfor Sdn Bhd, to staff at Bersatu's headquarters.
Perceived Influence and Motivation for Donation

Shahradzi testified that he would not have made the RM19.5 million donation to Bersatu had Datuk Azman Yusoff not solicited it. His belief in Yusoff's ability to influence the project's award stemmed from Yusoff's position as the president of Malaysia's Bumiputera contractors' association and his reported acquaintance with the then-Works Minister. Shahradzi confirmed that Yusoff never mentioned that former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was the one requesting the donation, nor was Muhyiddin's name explicitly mentioned by Yusoff in their conversations regarding the contribution.

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What role did businessman Datuk Azman Yusoff play in the donation?

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