KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has left it to his party’s supreme council to decide on his presidency, after he was slapped with charges of corruption and money-laundering.
In a brief press conference at the court complex here, Muhyiddin said he was elected Bersatu president and not appointed like former party information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
“I will leave the matter of my position to the party supreme council to decide as I am an elected party president. I will comply with whatever decision is made by the supreme council.”
Wan Saiful resigned from his party post after being charged in court with corruption last month.
On February 21, Wan Saiful was charged with soliciting a bribe and receiving RM6.9 million for helping a private firm to secure a central spine road government contract worth RM232 million.
Similarly, Segambut Bersatu division deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad pleaded not guilty to two corruption charges – allegedly soliciting bribes and allegedly receiving RM500,000 from a company.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin claimed trial to four charges of abuse of power amounting to RM232.5 million and two charges of receiving RM195 million in illicit funds.
Muhyiddin reiterated that these charges laid against him were “political persecution” aimed at discrediting him and his party.
He also denied that he had misappropriated funds from the Jana Wibawa initiative or that he had approved tax exemptions for Yayasan Al-Bukhary.
“I again deny the allegations that money from Jana Wibawa, meant to save Bumiputera contractors, was misused by me.
“I also deny that I have abused my position to order a tax exemption for Yayasan Albukhary. The approvals for such things were done entirely by MoF (Finance Ministry).”
“I have never broken the law. I hold on to my principles. This is the price I have to pay. I will have my day in court and leave it to God to render ultimate justice.”
Yesterday, Muhyiddin said the matter on the tax exemption was forwarded to the Finance Ministry for due diligence and decision-making after former finance minister Lim Guan Eng cancelled the exemptions during the 2018 Pakatan Harapan administration.
Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz was in charge of the finance portfolio under Muhyiddin, as he was in Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration. – The Vibes, March 10, 2023
