ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – Malaysia’s former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been detained by graft busters yesterday and will be charged today over alleged abuse on projects awarded under a government stimulus programme.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said in a statement that that the former premier was detained at 1pm yesterday after he arrived at the agency for an interview over the case.
The anti-graft agency said Muhyiddin will face several charges related to corruption, abuse of power and money laundering today.
He will be the second Malaysian ex-premier, after Najib Razak, to be charged for corruption. Najib is serving a 12-year sentence after being found guilty on one of the charges linked to state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Speaking to reporters yesterday outside the MACC headquarters, Bersatu’s information chief Razali Idris said, “We consider this inhumane as the party is having its elections tomorrow (Friday) and Parliament is also in session.” Muhyiddin leads the opposition Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Bersatu and Parti Islam Semalaysia are the main members of opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN).
MACC is investigating allegations that contractors chosen for the stimulus programme, known as Jana Wibawa, were required to deposit money amounting to MYR300 million in the accounts of Bersatu, in return for projects.
Calling them political slander, Muhyiddin has denied the allegations.
The Jana Wibawa programme was launched to help bumiputera contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was conceived by former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who is now international trade and industry minister.
Yesterday, several PN Members of Parliament (MPs) skipped the Parliament session to show solidarity with Muhyiddin.
Bersatu’s supreme leadership council member Azmin Ali, who was at the MACC headquarters in support of the party leader, is confident that Muhyiddin is innocent.
“As a supporter of the party that always insists on the principles of accountability, transparency, integrity and rejection of corruption and kleptocrats, I will continue to be with Muhyiddin,” he told reporters yesterday.
