KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin denied ever receiving cash inducements from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) sometime in 2018, in his capacity as the home minister, as claimed by a witness in the criminal trial of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The National Recovery Council chairman refuted the revelations made by David Tan, the former UKSB administrative manager and prosecution witness in Zahid’s trial, who told the court on Friday that Muhyiddin received up to RM1.3 million in cash from the company.
Muhyiddin asserted the testimony was fake and claimed he was unwell and was receiving cancer treatment on June 4, July 4, and August 23, 2018, when the inducements were allegedly paid.
“At that time, I was undergoing surgery for cancer and later went on leave for several months for further treatment. My duties as the home minister were taken over by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“With that, I would like to state that I never received, directly or indirectly, any form of cash from David Tan, a witness from UKSB, its directors or its shareholders,” he wrote in a statement this evening.
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Posted by Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday, June 17, 2022
Checks showed that Muhyiddin had reportedly undergone surgery on July 11, 2018, and was on leave from July 12 onwards. He was reportedly discharged from Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital on August 7.
Muhyiddin today noted how he was never called in for questioning by investigators over the supposed inducements, adding that he would be open to assisting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the claims if needed.
“I also hope the prosecution in the case will explain this matter so that it does not raise negative slander against me when I personally firmly oppose corruption,” he wrote.
Earlier today, Tan had testified in the Shah Alam high court that Muhyiddin was paid the RM1.3 million in three tranches; RM300,000 on June 4, RM500,000 on July 4, and another RM500,000 on August 23.
The revelation was made by Tan when he was asked to confirm initials within UKSB’s company’s ledger during Zahid’s corruption trial, involving the foreign Visa system (VLN).
Besides Muhyiddin, other names mentioned in today’s proceedings were Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal dan Datuk Seri Anifah Aman as they were also stated in the UKSB’s ledger and the MACC’s forensic report.
Zahid is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting toRM42 million from UKSB as an inducement for himself in his capacity as a civil servant and the then home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of the One-Stop Centre (OSC) in China, and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the agreement to supply VLN integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the home ministry. – The Vibes, June 17, 2022.
