Muhyiddin's position is the reason Bersatu received millions of ringgit in donations - prosecution

THE prosecution told the High Court today that millions of ringgit did not enter Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s personal accounts but were instead deposited into Bersatu's accounts.

The lead prosecutor argued that Muhyiddin had an indirect interest in the Jana Wibawa programme as he was the party president and serving prime minister at the time.

Reading his opening statement, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the prosecution would prove that the party obtained financial contributions through its President, Muhyiddin, who was then the prime minister.

He said the prosecution team would prove that the then Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, acted on the minutes of the meeting issued by Muhyiddin.

“The Finance Minister and his Umno allies did not gain any benefit from the implementation of the minutes.

“We will prove that if it were not for the accused as the party President and prime minister, Bersatu would not have received millions in donations,” he said.

Wan Shaharuddin said the prosecution would prove its case through direct and circumstantial evidence by calling 30 witnesses.

According to him, in proving the offence under Section 23 (1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, the prosecution relies on the legal presumption under Section 23 (2) of the same act.

He said the Court of Appeal had previously ruled that Bersatu was an organisation and the charges under Section 23 (1) of the Act were without any defects.

Apart from Wan Shaharuddin, the prosecution is conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors, Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib, Noralis Mat, Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Wan Nur Imam Wan Ahmad Afzal, Alis Izzati Azurin Mohd Rusdi and Prosecuting Officer, Mohamad Safari Abdullah.

Muhyiddin is represented by lawyers, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, Chetan Jethwani, Low Wei Loke, Kee Wei Loon, Siti Sumaiyahh Ahmad Jaafar, Lee Yee Wei and Tang Jia Yearn.

The proceedings before Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin continued with Hisyam reading out the defence statement.

Muhyiddin was charged in 2023 with allegedly abusing his position to solicit RM232.5 million in bribes for Bersatu from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd and Datuk Azman Yusoff.

He also faces three money laundering charges involving RM200 million allegedly received from Bukhary Equity and deposited into Bersatu's accounts at AmBank and CIMB Bank. – March 9, 2026