MALAYSIA — The President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Muhyiddin Yassin, is expected to be summoned by Malaysia’s anti-graft agency for investigations into the party’s funds.
The New Straits Times (NST), citing a source, reported yesterday (14 Feb) that Mr Muhyiddin will have his statement taken by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) “in the near future”.
This is regarding the alleged RM300 million (US$68 million) of political funds received by the party from contractors that were awarded projects under his administration.
Almost all the donors who contributed to the party’s accounts were contractors who were awarded government contracts during Muhyiddin’s premiership as the 8th prime minister from March 2020 to August 2021. Other Bersatu leaders, including the party’s treasurer, have also been summoned by the MACC to have their statements recorded.
Two bank accounts belonging to Bersatu, with a total balance of RM40 million, have been frozen by the MACC. MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki confirmed on 2 February that the commission froze several Bersatu bank accounts as part of its investigations into the alleged embezzlement of RM600 billion in funds used by the previous Perikatan Nasional (PN)-led government during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022.
Calls for an official investigation into the stimulus spending during the pandemic grew after there were perceptions that PN ran a well-funded election campaign leading up to the 15th General Elections on 19 November last year.
Muhyiddin, who is the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, has since denied the allegations, calling it an attempt to silence the opposition by the new unity government.
In a separate investigation by the anti-graft agency into the Pandora Papers, the MACC is said to be summoning more individuals. A former finance minister was called up by the MACC on 14 February, and investigators are looking into the case involving this individual.
The MACC is also reportedly attempting to trace overseas assets and investments linked to the former minister and his family. An 84-year-old former minister was summoned to explain claims of a money trail to 12 offshore companies alleged to be owned by him and his family.
No accounts have been frozen for now. “They will seek for accounts to be frozen if necessary. But for now, they have not done so as the investigation is still in its early stages,” according to an anonymous source cited by The Star.
The Pandora Papers are a trove of 11.9 million leaked financial documents naming heads of state, billionaires, and celebrities who use offshore companies to acquire mansions, private jets, and stakes in companies with little or no transparency.
