[UPDATED] Check what I said, Anwar tells Muhyiddin on GE15 gambling funds claims

KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said his predecessor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is welcome to take legal action against him over allegations that Perikatan Nasional (PN) used gambling proceeds to fund its GE15 campaign.

However, Anwar urged Muhyiddin to read his full statement regarding the allegations – which the former made last year after becoming prime minister – before proceeding.

“Read the full statement and then take action. But, if he wishes to follow through, (he is) welcome (to do so),” Anwar told a press conference at the 40th Kuala Lumpur International Book Festival today.

“I will not issue statements if I have no basis,” he added.

The Tambun MP was responding to Muhyiddin’s threat of legal action for alleging that PN used gambling proceeds to fund elections. Muhyiddin made the threat after it was revealed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had not opened any investigation papers into the gaming proceeds allegations.

Anwar today confirmed that numerous agencies are probing into the matter and said information on the investigation will be released after more evidence is obtained.

Muhyiddin was prime minister when the government increased the number of 4D special draws to 22 per year. After Anwar became prime minister and finance minister, his government slashed the frequency down to eight times annually, starting this year.

As the newly minted prime minister, Anwar said his government would look into allegations that PN, which comprises Muhyiddin’s party Bersatu as well as PAS, had used proceeds from the special draws to help finance its election campaign.

In clarifying news reports that the MACC had not opened investigation papers into the allegations, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said stressed that she never said the probe into PN had been “dropped”.

She said no papers were opened as information on the allegations had been general and could not be confirmed but pointed out that the MACC still has the right to investigate and open papers as and when new information or evidence is obtained.

She also warned against politicising news that the anti-graft agency had not opened any such papers and using her statement to make baseless accusations against the prime minister. – The Vibes, Many 27, 2023