[UPDATED] Pakatan lodged reports to silence dissent against new govt: Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has described police reports lodged by Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs over allegations involving him and the misappropriation of RM600 billion as a clear attempt at silencing dissent for those against the newly formed government.

In a statement posted on his Facebook account, today, the Pagoh MP pointed out that both Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan and newly appointed Digital Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil had hurled these accusations against him.

“Fahmi also stated that the prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) had ordered the police to investigate Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang over allegations of (Anwar) being an Israeli agent.

“The police immediately denied investigating Hadi. However, barely days after becoming the government, PH without any shame has used the police to persecute leaders who are not in line with them.

“This is in clear contrast to their promise for institutional reforms to ensure the freedom of the country’s institutions without any political interference including the police. 

“Anyway, I’m not surprised by their broken promises. Before the election, they vehemently denied working with the kleptocrats. 

“After the election, they shamelessly hugged and kissed and formed a government together – so much so that some made a parody of the song ‘dulu benci penyamun (used to hate thieves), sekarang sayang penyamun (now liking thieves)’,” he said. 

Addressing the RM600 billion allegations, Muhyiddin questioned where was the number derived from in the first place.

“I presume it refers to the eight Economic Stimulus Packages worth RM530 billion that I had implemented when I was prime minister to help the people and businesses affected during the pandemic period.

“Out of RM530 billion, most of it is non-fiscal, which does not involve government expenditure. 

“This includes the issuance of EPF’s i-Lestari, i-Sinar, i-Citra worth RM145 billion, a reduction in EPF payments worth RM10 billion, a moratorium on bank loan payments for individuals and companies worth RM180 billion, government guarantees for company loans worth RM80 billion and initiatives others that aim to ease the burden borne by individuals and businesses.”

Muhyiddin said it is impossible for him to misappropriate this money because it is individual or bank money that does not involve government expenditure.

“As the prime minister at that time, I did not have any authority over the use of this money,” he said.

“According to the finance minister’s statement on June 29, 2021, expenditure involving government money in the form of fiscal injections is worth RM83 billion. 

“This includes spending on the purchase of vaccines worth RM5 billion and various forms of direct cash assistance for the people such as wage subsidies worth RM20.92 billion, Bantuan Prihatin National worth RM18.2 billion, Geran Khas Prihatin worth RM4.21 billion, Geran Khas Prihatin Permai worth RM842 million the Skim Pembiayaan Mudah Bumiputera worth RM500 million and other aids that are directly deposited into the accounts of eligible recipients.

Not a single sen of this money, he said, went into his personal account. 

“It doesn’t make sense that people’s aid money that is directly deposited into their account can be diverted into my account.

“If this happens, it will of course be known through the audit findings made by the National Audit Department (NAD) every year. 

“The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will of course present a report on it in Parliament. It is impossible for NAD or PAC to overlook it. This is no small thing. It’s a big deal.

“In fact, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) must have received a notification about the movement of large sums of money into my account and an investigation should have been started more than a year ago. 

“But there was nothing,” he said.

Accusing him of obstructing investigations as he was prime minister was inaccurate, he said, as he had resigned from his post as prime minister more than a year ago.

“Besides, if this happens, of course Pak Mat, Pak Jusoh, Mak Piah in the village realise that the money they should have received did not go into their accounts. Try asking them whether they received the money or not.

“Also ask Salim, Lim, Kumar whether they accept or not the wage subsidy channelled to their companies. 

“If everyone got it, how could the money be misappropriated by me?” he asked in jest.

Muhyiddin stressed that he is not afraid of being investigated because he is confident that he did not misuse the people's money.

“My only message to the politicians of PH and Umno, is don’t get busy pointing fingers at others by making false accusations just to cover up the weaknesses of the government that is only a few days old and still does not have any smart ideas to solve the people’s problems. 

“You have become a government, act like a government. Enough with the political drama, as the people want to see what the new government has in store for them,” he added. – The Vibes, December 5, 2022