Following his questioning by the MACC, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has maintained his innocence.
Muhyiddin (above) explained that he was called up by the anti-graft body to facilitate investigations as a witness, not a suspect, over the Jana Wibawa programme for bumiputera contractors under his administration.
He stressed that MACC’s investigating officer did not question him on allegations by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that the former’s administration had misappropriated billions of ringgit.
“There were no questions asked over the RM600 billion, RM530 billion, RM86 billion, or RM4.5 billion which was claimed that I had swindled,” he said in a press conference after launching a blood donation campaign at Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur this morning.
“I was called to give my statement specifically on Jana Wibawa. Jana Wibawa was a programme proposed by the finance minister at that time, Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, to help bumiputera contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic as they were badly affected.
“I explained to the MACC that only the Finance Ministry had the power to approve and select the companies, whereas the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) was involved to suggest names of the companies. The power to approve was not with the PMO.
“I then asked if I were a suspect and would be charged. I was told I’m not a suspect but merely to give explanations to assist with investigations,” he said.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson divulged that he heard the MACC will soon call up Zafrul to assist in the probe over the Jana Wibawa project.
“That is up to them to get the explanation from him (Zafrul).”
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that approvals for RM5.7 billion worth of rural development projects under the Jana Wibawa programme had been halted temporarily until the procurement and expenditure procedures set by the Treasury are followed.
Zahid said, the Finance Ministry, which Anwar also heads, wanted to check if they were awarded in accordance with the procurement process and governance requirements.
Muhyiddin mulls legal action
Yesterday, it was reported that the MACC had recorded a statement from Muhyiddin pertaining to the probe into Bersatu’s bank accounts, which have been frozen.
Aside from Muhyiddin, several other senior Bersatu leaders have also been questioned by the MACC.
In the presser today, Muhyiddin stressed that MACC’s questioning him solely on the Jana Wibawa project showed that Anwar’s allegations against him were intended to tarnish his reputation.
Therefore, the Pagoh MP said he is mulling further legal action to counter allegations thrown against him.
“We have asked our lawyers to look into taking legal action. It has been non-stop slander against me.
“I have been in the government for 50 years, there are no cases of corruption against me, no abuse of power. I follow the rules and I want to emphasise that I adhere to the rule of law but they are not convinced.
“They categorised me in the same category as other thieves, which I’m not (Mereka golongkan saya macam golongan perompak yang lain. I’m not.) ,” Muhyiddin stressed.
Earlier this month, Malaysiakini reported that MACC had frozen two of Bersatu’s bank accounts to facilitate investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act. The two accounts reportedly contained about RM40 million.
A MACC source claimed that the account freeze was over allegations that Bersatu received contributions amounting to about RM300 million from some 10 contractors who received various projects when the party was running the government.
Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, has denied the charges and said that he would write a letter to the MACC requesting the accounts to be unfrozen as it is hampering the party’s operations, such as paying staff wages and office rentals. - Mkini
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