PUTRAJAYA (March 9) Former prime minister and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin arrived at the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters on Thursday (March 9) morning.
Swarmed by the media and supporters, Muhyiddin, who is also president of Bersatu or Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, a component party of the PN coalition, entered the MACC premises without speaking to the media.
A flock of supporters and PN members of Parliament (MPs) could be seen amassed outside the gates of the MACC HQ.
Muhyiddin’s arrival was greeted with the rallying cries of PN and Bersatu supporters, shouting “fight, fight PH (Pakatan Harapan)... fight, fight tyranny (or ‘kezaliman’ in Malay)... rise, rise PN”.
Among the MPs and former MPs who were present were former international trade and industry minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
It is currently unknown for what purpose Muhyiddin has been summoned by the MACC; however this is the second time he has been called to the home of the anti-graft body this year.
He was previously summoned in February to record his statement regarding the Jana Wibawa projects introduced during his time as PM.
At the time, he was reported as saying that he was called up by the anti-graft watchdog, not as a suspect but to provide his statement concerning the award of the projects to selected contractors.
The Jana Wibawa programme, or “Program Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputera Berwibawa” in Malay, was introduced to expedite project execution post-Covid-19 pandemic. To facilitate the implementation, the government resorted to either pre-qualification tenders or direct awards.
De facto law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said told Dewan Rakyat in February that 56 projects under Jana Wibawa received letters of acceptances with a cumulative contract value totalling RM6.3 billion.
Of those, RM5.7 billion worth of projects have been postponed, subject to review of the procurement process, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Bersatu has been in hot water in recent times over the Jana Wibawa projects.
Just last month, the MACC froze the political party’s accounts as part of an investigation under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
It was reported that the probe concerned political donations, which amounted to more than RM300 million, from contractors who procured various public projects when the party helmed the government.
Later in February, two individuals linked to Bersatu were charged in court with soliciting and accepting bribes of up to millions in ringgit in relation to the programme.
The two individuals, former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and the party’s deputy division chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad, have denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
Several businessmen were also charged in court for various bribery offences.
Unable to comment on the MACC investigation, says Hamzah
When asked for what purpose Muhyiddin had been called to the MACC, Hamzah, who is Bersatu secretary-general, said he was unable to comment on the matter.
“We cannot talk about the case at the moment because what happened now… Tan Sri [Muhyiddin] has been called for investigation, so we can’t say anything about the case.
“We hope that there is no case at all, but we know rumours are saying that he will be charged tomorrow, but we are not so sure about that.
“So, I can’t give my comment on the cases or whether he is going to be charged or not,” Hamzah said.
Hamzah claimed that the MACC’s move against Muhyiddin is political persecution, as he (Hamzah) said that the party feels it has done nothing wrong.
Hamzah asserted that there is nothing wrong with a political party receiving political donations, as there is no legislation which prohibits such actions.
“Since there is no Act on that, I think whatever that we have been receiving is actually fair. It is not only for us; many other parties have been receiving a lot of political funds besides Bersatu.
“Everyone has got their own rights to do anything in this country, as long as you follow the law,” Hamzah said.
“There will be no cancellation of the (Bersatu) AGM (annual general meeting) (on Friday, March 10), but the morning session will be postponed till after Friday prayers because we are not so sure; if nothing happens here today (Thursday), then we will proceed. If something happens tomorrow (Friday), then we will standby,” he said.