KUALA LUMPUR (March 9): Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who will be charged in court over corruption allegations on Friday (March 10) said he had no power to approve any government projects during his tenure as prime minister, and the power was under the purview of the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

In a statement, Muhyiddin said he will be facing seven charges in court on Friday in what he viewed as “political oppression and persecution” towards himself and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, in relation with Jana Wibawa as well as tax amnesty for tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman maintained his innocence over allegations of corruption linked to the political funds of Bersatu, of which he is also president.

Bersatu has been in the spotlight with two party members charged in court in relation to the Jana Wibawa programme — development projects of at least RM6.3 billion introduced to Bumiputera contractors during the PN administration to accelerate the nation’s economic recovery post Covid-19 pandemic.

On Jana Wibawa, he said he has “never given instruction” to the MOF, or influenced the latter’s decision in relation with Jana Wibawa.

“I have to stress that I did not commit any wrongdoing in the eyes of the law,” Muhyiddin said in a statement.

“I was not the party who had power to approve any government project. The power to approve [government projects] is under the purview of the MOF.

"I only executed the decision of the Cabinet, which required the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to forward the request for projects to be considered by MOF in accordance with the rules and regulations in place,” Muhyiddin said.

Muhyiddin said it was sad that the programme is being portrayed as a scheme to steal the nation's money.

He said that was the reason why the amount involved kept changing, "from RM600 billion to RM530 billion, and then falling drastically to RM92.5 billion, declining further to RM4.5 billion, and finally to RM300 million."

"Using this slander, MACC froze Bersatu's bank accounts to destroy Bersatu," he added.

The 75-year-old political leader reiterated that he had never met any contractors that secured projects. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), according to him, did not find any proof of him receiving funds from the contractors, as he never did.

Muhyiddin said he will also be charged for abuse of power for having asked the MOF to review the termination of tax exemption for charity foundation Yayasan Albukhary.

The former PM clarified in the statement that the contribution from Syed Mokhtar is indeed a “political donation that went straight into Bersatu’s account” and not to him personally.

The tax exemption was given by the Barisan Nasional government in the past, and it was terminated by Lim Guan Eng who was finance minister during the Pakatan Harapan administration after the 14th General Election in 2018, he said.

Admitting that Syed Mokhtar is a “dear friend” of 30 years, Muhyiddin said that the former had appealed against the termination when he was prime minister.

“I minuted — ‘please review this appeal. If it is orderly, I have no objection’. This appeal was reviewed by MOF and the Inland Revenue Board and subsequently approved.

“Because of the minute, I am now charged with abuse of power,” he said, reiterating that he had never given any instruction to the MOF, or influenced its decision to approve the appeal.

Muhyiddin slammed the political parties of the ruling unity government, alleging they have received donations from Syed Mokhtar “for tens of years” and questioned Bersatu’s wrongdoing in receiving the same.

“Under normal circumstances, there is no basis to charge me under any law. However, there are orders from those with the most power in the government’s administration to have me charged,” Muhyiddin said.

“I stress that I am innocent and I will answer all the allegations against me in court,” he added.