[UPDATED] Your biggest ‘achievement’ is charging me in court, Muhyiddin mocks govt

KUALA LUMPUR – Mocking the unity government for its alleged failures to address the country’s socioeconomic issues, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the current government’s biggest “achievement” was charging him in court – a move he stressed was politically motivated.

Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, said this, however, will eventually work against the government as millions of party supporters and members will rise up and fight against its “cruelty”.

The Pagoh MP also lambasted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the latter’s opposition to allowing contributors to withdraw their savings from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).

He called Anwar’s plan to instead allow contributors to use their EPF savings as collateral for loans a “dumb” idea that would lead poor families, especially the Malays, further into debt.

“I am perplexed that the prime minister suggested in the Dewan Rakyat last week for EPF contributors to use their savings as collaterals for bank loans. Is this a smart move? It’s dumb.

“What kind of suggestion is this? Is the government encouraging poor people, especially the Malays, to be in debt.

“If they can’t afford to pay their loans, then their EPF savings will also be gone, yet they still have to pay interest charges imposed by the bank,” he said.

Muhyiddin made those remarks during his policy speech at Bersatu’s annual general assembly held at Menara PGRM today.

In attendance was over 1,000 delegates, who earlier had voted for Muhyiddin to remain as their party president despite facing criminal charges.

Muhyiddin claimed that such (purportedly) ill-conceived plans and initiatives by the unity government have resulted in its low ratings, based on a recent survey conducted by a research firm in collaboration with a news agency.

“It is not surprising that not even one minister has earned a passing score of over 50. Simply put, the low scores given by the rakyat indicated that the government has failed them.

“It is not us that said they (the government) have failed but this was said by the rakyat. Their biggest achievement is charging me in court, that is it,” he said.

Muhyiddin, 76, was recently slapped with a total of six corruption-related charges at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on Friday – four for abuse of power involving RM232.5 million and two charges of receiving RM195 million in illicit funds. He has claimed trial to all charges.

The Pagoh MP is expected to face an additional charge under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 tomorrow.

Muhyiddin said if the unity government persists in this behaviour, it will not be a surprise if it only serves one term or even bows out before its full term.

“If this is the way the prime minister and ministers of this unity government continue to carry themselves, the rakyat will continue to give them a failing score.

“And when GE16 comes around or even before that, it is possible they could even drop out,” he said.

Muhyiddin also claimed that the unity government is not as strong as touted, claiming that the parties that formed the federal government are “strange bedfellows.”

“So, I would like to advise those in Putrajaya to be cautious and instead of acting recklessly by acting on lust and vengeance,” he said.  – The Vibes, March 12, 2023