Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has denied claims that his coalition obtained funds from gambling companies to cover the costs of the 15th general election campaign.
The statement made yesterday by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the matter is a serious accusation, he said.
In fact, Muhyiddin (above) swore, he did not take even a sen of donations from gambling companies.
“He (Anwar) said that we used gambling money for the election campaign. Maybe it’s him… (kot dia kot) I don’t want to say it, but there is information that says maybe it’s him.
“We are leaders. Gambling is illegal here and there. (Saying that) we took gambling money to manage the election, are we that poor that we don’t have money?
“I swear to God, we will not do such illegal things. We will not accept even a sen of donations from any gaming company just because we want money. That’s illegal,” he said at a grand finale speech for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat election campaign in Kulim last night.
The former prime minister was responding to Anwar’s statement yesterday that implied that PN’s election funds came partly from gambling companies involved in special draws.
Speaking at a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya, Anwar said election funds for the “Malay” and “Islamic” parties came from gaming companies.
“On the issue of gambling, certainly, this is partly used to finance elections. (I have asked for) checks on that.
“Whether you call yourself a Malay party or Islamic party, notwithstanding, the (election) funds came from gaming companies,” he added.
Meanwhile, PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin acknowledged that the coalition had given RM50,000 each for its candidates who contested in GE15, but denied the funds came from gambling companies.
"If the money had come from gambling companies, PN would not only have won 73 seats, we would have also won the 30 seats won by BN," he told a ceramah session for the Tioman state seat by-election in Rompin, last night.
Hamzah, who is also Larut MP, further accused Anwar of spreading propaganda to divert attention on issues that matter.
Special draws down to eight
Anwar also chided the previous PN government led by Bersatu and PAS for increasing the frequency of special draws from eight per year to 22 – a decision made in late 2020.
Anwar said as finance minister, he decided that starting January next year, the number of special draws would be reduced back to eight per year.
Muhyiddin explained that his party has “friends” who helped PN and the same situation also occurs with other parties.
“But we also have friends. There aren’t many, just a few to help. If we get it, the other side would get it too.
“If we receive it, Gerakan receives it, Bersatu receives it, PAS also gets it, is that wrong? According to the law, it’s not wrong. Anwar’s accusation, that’s a serious accusation. The cabinet is new and they are already making accusations,” Muhyiddin added. - Mkini
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