[UPDATED] MACC freezes Bersatu accounts

KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu’s accounts have been frozen for investigations under money laundering laws, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said.

The anti-graft agency chief commissioner confirmed this to the media, saying the party’s accounts were being probed on suspicion of receiving illegal proceeds.

“Investigations are being done according to the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act,” Azam said.

Azam’s confirmation did not mention the MACC’s ongoing investigations into the RM92.5 billion in economic stimulus funds that were allegedly misappropriated when Bersatu’s chief Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was prime minister.

Muhyiddin also leads the Perikatan Nasional coalition, which ran the government from March 2020 to August 2021.

However, MACC already has investigation papers opened into the RM92.5 billion since December.

It had narrowed its probe from an initial RM530 billion in economic stimulus funds to RM92.5 billion after finding that only the latter amount involved government monies.

Muhyiddin’s PN administration had rolled out several economic stimulus packages totalling some RM600 billion to assist Malaysians during the Covid-19 pandemic. The packages also included bank loan moratoriums and Employees Provident Fund withdrawals.

The freezing of Bersatu’s accounts follows the arrest of a chief executive officer (CEO) of a private company last month over the same investigation into economic stimulus funds.

The 42-year-old CEO, who was remanded for five days, was suspected of acting as a ‘middleman’ in the distribution of projects under the stimulus packages from 2020 to 2022.

Separately, a source told Getaran, The Vibes’ sister news portal, that the party's funds were frozen about two weeks ago. – The Vibes, February 1, 2023