{
  "id": 1894942,
  "title": "PM has no power to direct project awards, High Court told",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/pm-has-no-power-to-direct-project-awards-high-court-told",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T08:37:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1514576/pm-has-no-power-direct-project-awards-high-court-told"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The High Court has heard testimony from former Finance Ministry procurement division secretary Datuk Zamzuri Abdul Aziz, who testified that the Prime Minister does not have the authority under law and government procurement regulations to direct that a project be awarded to a particular company. Zamzuri testified that the authority to determine whether a project should be implemented through pre-qualification or direct negotiation rested with the Finance Minister. This testimony is part of the trial of former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who faces charges of using his position and money laundering in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
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        "title": "Peshawar High Court orders cement factory emission survey",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/peshawar-high-court-orders-cement-factory-emission-survey",
        "published": "2026-08-19T04:06:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Man’s ‘voluntary’ savings can’t affect claim: Uttarakhand High Court hikes maintenance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/mans-voluntary-savings-cant-affect-claim-uttarakhand-high-court-hikes",
        "published": "2026-08-19T05:46:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "High Court raises hammer attacker's jail term from two to five years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/high-court-raises-hammer-attackers-jail-term-from-two-to-five-years",
        "published": "2026-08-19T05:48:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Kidnapped Kebbi High Court judge recounts ordeal in bandits’ captivity",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/kidnapped-kebbi-high-court-judge-recounts-ordeal-in-bandits-captivity",
        "published": "2026-08-19T06:26:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}