JOHOR BARU, Feb 1 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) Johor state chapter said none of its bank accounts related to the party had been frozen over a money-laundering probe.

Johor Bersatu chief Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal said that the party’s Johor bank accounts had not experienced any disruption or been frozen by authorities.

“So far, it’s okay. There are no problems,” he said in a brief reply through WhatsApp today when asked about the situation concerning Johor Bersatu’s banking accounts after it was earlier reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had frozen the bank accounts of the party’s headquarters following a money-laundering probe.

Earlier, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the freezing of Bersatu’s accounts.

National news agency Bernama quoted him as saying that several party accounts had been frozen to facilitate investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

However, Azam did not elaborate further.

It is understood that the accounts in question were frozen as part of the MACC’s probe into alleged irregularities in the use of RM600 billion worth of public funds meant for the Covid-19 pandemic by the previous administration under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the Bersatu president.

On December 6, Azam announced that the anti-graft body had opened an investigation paper into the allegations.

However, several news reports pointed out that the recent MACC action was to investigate allegations that Bersatu received donations from about 10 contractors who received various projects when the party was in government.

It is said that the amount of the donation is suspected to be more than RM300 million. - malaymail