KUALA LUMPUR – Allegations that Perikatan Nasional (PN) had used proceeds from gambling companies to help finance their campaign for the recent general election (GE15) has caught the attention of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The anti-graft body’s scrutiny of the matter was informed by law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang-BN) in a one-sentence parliamentary written reply today.
“MACC is in the process of studying relevant information to be developed as an investigation basis,” she said briefly.
Azalina said this in response to a query from PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Pasir Mas-PN) on developments of investigations into claims that PN’s GE15 campaign was financed by gambling companies.
The allegation was first implied by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) in December, with the Pakatan Harapan chairman noting then that the federal government is looking into the issue.
Subsequently, figures from PN component parties PAS and Bersatu had lashed out at the accusations, with the former’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN) threatening legal action against Anwar if he fails to provide clear evidence over the “wild allegations”.
Party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang-PN) also asserted that it makes no sense for gaming companies to fund PN’s election campaign, as PAS is aggressively against gambling.
Similarly, PN chairman and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh-PN) had dismissed the allegations as slander, claiming that the coalition was being targeted for its popularity among Malay voters in GE15. – The Vibes, March 29, 2023
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