PUTRAJAYA – Now on the receiving end of an investigation into allegations of vote-buying, Bersatu has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to similarly probe Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) for exorbitant spending during the 15th general election.
Puchong Bersatu division chief Mohd Shukor Mustaffa alleged that the two coalitions were involved in multiple accusations of luxurious spending in the recently concluded federal polls.
Among other things, he said both PH and BN had printed an immense number of election materials such as party flags and posters.
“Their ceramahs were also extravagant. In fact, (PH chairman) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had used a helicopter to move around during the campaigning period,” he said here today.
He added that based on information he received, PH had allegedly spent about RM10 million per constituency.
Shukor said this to the media just prior to lodging an official report on the matter with the anti-graft body, a move he claimed to have received the blessing of his party.
He was accompanied by some 20 supporters.
The Bersatu leader also took issue with the appointment of Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar as the prime minister’s adviser without taking any salary, which he said indicated the family’s tremendous wealth.
“Who is funding them? Are there tycoons operating behind Anwar’s family? All these raise the question over the actual source of PH and BN’s funds.”
“We hope a full probe will be conducted by MACC against PH and BN. MACC should be a free and independent body. My report today requires fair and immediate action.”
Last week, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed media reports that Bersatu’s accounts have been frozen under money-laundering laws to assist an investigation into accusations of receiving illegal proceeds to fund its election campaign.
The investigation is believed to be related to the RM92.5 billion in economic stimulus funds that were allegedly misappropriated when Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was prime minister.
Muhyiddin later questioned if the move was a deliberate strategy to cripple Perikatan Nasional’s efforts ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Shukor said the accusations and slander hurled at Bersatu today are nothing more than attempts to create a negative perception of the party.
He also questioned why Bersatu’s accounts were being frozen despite investigations still being actively ongoing, and if this is meant to weaken the party.
“What this means is Bersatu is being punished without being proven guilty,” he said, adding that previous accusations that PN had been operating out of funds collected from gambling tax have also yet to be proven. – The Vibes, February 7, 2023
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