[UPDATED] MACC expected to detain Muhyiddin today: Bersatu info chief

PUTRAJAYA – Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to be detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today before being brought to the court tomorrow to be charged, said party information chief Datuk Razali Idris. 

“He (Muhyiddin) has been asked to come to the MACC’s headquarters, here and we expect him to be arrested today and charged in court tomorrow.

“We treat this as an injustice because Bersatu was due to have its elections tomorrow, while the Dewan Rakyat is also in session,” Razali told reporters outside the MACC headquarters here.

He opined that MACC’s latest action against Muhyiddin was aimed at destroying “Perikatan Nasional (PN)” and disrupting Bersatu’s chances to contest in the upcoming state elections at six states.

Amidst a crowd of supporters, other Bersatu leaders present outside the MACC headquarters in support of the former Prime Minister included Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, party supreme council member Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, and Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

Muhyiddin is expected to present himself at MACC headquarters after its officers summoned him, yesterday.

It is learnt that Muhyiddin is expected to be charged for graft in relation to the Jana Wibawa stimulus initiative as well as the government’s additional spending during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

A MACC source had earlier confirmed that the politician in question, a senior party leader, will be charged under the MACC Act 2009.

Previously, a couple of Bersatu leaders were charged in relation to the Jana Wibawa initiative, formally known as Program Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputera Berwibawa. 

It was aimed at expediting project execution by Bumiputera contractors as part of moves to boost the country’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan was charged with soliciting and receiving bribes worth RM6.9 million to help a private firm secure a central spine road government contract worth RM232 million in 2022.

He and Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad are the first two people charged with corruption involving Jana Wibawa, which was introduced by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he was prime minister.

Previously, it was reported that Muhyiddin was also a suspect in the investigation of Jana Wibawa by MACC. – The Vibes, March 9, 2023