[UPDATED] Muhyiddin nothing like Najib, says Wan Fayhsal

KUALA LUMPUR – Although both have been charged in court with corruption, the tribulations faced by former prime ministers Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Najib Razak are nothing alike.

This is according to Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who asserted that the accusations against his party president are incomparable with Najib’s involvement in the globally infamous 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) financial scandal.

“I would like to remind the people that (Muhyiddin) is not (Najib). (Muhyiddin) was never involved in 1MDB, which is one of the world’s biggest scandals.

“Malay people will know how to differentiate between diamonds and glass,” he said during his policy speech at the Bersatu Youth annual assembly here today.

Wan Fayhsal later told reporters that the party’s supreme council will meet tonight after today’s event.

“We will be meeting later… maybe you can enquire about it then,” he said when asked to comment on whether the supreme council will be discussing Muhyiddin’s presidency following his court charges.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty to four charges of power abuse amounting to RM232.5 million and two charges of money laundering involving RM195 million linked to his alleged role in the Jana Wibawa initiative and other matters. 

Last year, Najib became the nation’s first former prime minister to be jailed – over his role in misappropriating RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds, a former 1MDB subsidiary. 

Wan Fayhsal today also repeated claims that Muhyiddin is a victim of “selective prosecution” by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, which has been “extremely fearful” of Perikatan Nasional and linchpin Bersatu, both headed by Muhyiddin. 

“(Muhyiddin’s prosecution) is disappointing, inhumane, and far from the Rahmah and Madani (themes) espoused by (Anwar’s) government. 

“Our president will persevere and we will preserve. We want (Muhyiddin) to continue leading Bersatu and we will not stop fighting this cruelty,” the visibly emotional Machang MP told nearly 500 delegates who began cheering and shouting party slogans. 

Some were also heard calling for Anwar’s downfall and hurling slurs at the Pakatan Harapan chairman and the unity government. – The Vibes, March 11, 2023