Bintulu Port Authority general manager Anuar Aikne said that in October 2017 his team had prepared a paper titled “Operation and Facility Management of Labuan Liberty Terminal” with a view to appointing a company to manage Terminal Pelabuhan Merdeka.

According to Anuar, Bintulu Port Authority managed the operations for Labuan Port Authority at the time.

Anuar told the court that a total of three companies were shortlisted, namely Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd, LP Multi Terminal Sdn Bhd and Labuan Liberty Port Management Sdn Bhd.

Rozman’s father and brother were alleged to have had an interest in Labuan Liberty Port Management at the time the ex-Labuan MP was deputy chairman of the Labuan Port Authority.

Rozman, who is from Warisan, is standing trial on one count of abuse of power. He is accused of using his position to secure the contract for Labuan Liberty.

Under cross-examination by Rozman’s lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, Anuar confirmed that the decision as to which company to appoint to manage the port was vested in Labuan Port Authority’s board of directors.

Rafique: Do you agree that LP Multi Terminal was appointed in the end (to manage Terminal Pelabuhan Merdeka)?

Anuar: I agree.

The witness also confirmed that LP Multi Terminal had no links to either Rozman or his family members.

Asked by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Feisal Azmi how he knew of LP Multi Terminal’s appointment, Anuar said the port is currently being managed by one of that company’s subsidiaries.

Bintulu Port Authority’s administrative officer Terry Petrus Anak Tawi also testified in the case.

Terry told the court that Rozman was appointed Labuan Port Authority’s deputy chairman on March 27, 2017 for a term of one year. He added that Rozman was reappointed in 2018.

The hearing continues before judge Rozina Ayob on Tuesday.