Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has thrown down the gauntlet in response to DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng's threat to sue him.
Muhyiddin said he would not retract his claim that Lim, as then finance minister, had revoked the Albukhary Foundation's tax-exempt status.
"Why should I retract? It's a matter of fact. It's the truth," he said during a press conference after the Bersatu AGM today.
On Thursday night, after being released from MACC custody, Muhyiddin said he would be charged with abuse of power for re-granting the tax exemption given to the foundation headed by tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.
He alleged that the exemption was cancelled by Lim when Pakatan Harapan came to power in 2018.
Lim denied this and gave Muhyiddin until Wednesday to apologise and retract the remarks or face a defamation suit.
Explain what happened
When asked to comment on the former finance minister's demands, the Bersatu president said Lim should explain what happened instead.
He said as finance minister, matters regarding taxes must have passed through Lim.
"Did Lim do anything? If he said 'I did not do anything' then the (tax exemption request) must have been gained and there's no necessity for Syed Mokhtar to see me and ask the Finance Ministry to consider (reinstating the exemption)," he said.
Muhyiddin then doubled down and implied that Lim was afraid of the ramifications should the allegations be true.
"I know why he defended (himself), because he's afraid that the cancellation was during his time.
"The Albukhary Foundation is one of the biggest Malay-led foundations which has donated a lot to many people, and then you (Lim) stopped it? It's not good," he said.
In a statement earlier today, Lim accused Muhyiddin of lying, saying the latter has not furnished any proof that he was responsible for cancelling the Albukhary Foundation's tax-exempt status.
On Friday, Muhyiddin claimed trial to four counts of abuse of power and two money laundering charges involving RM232.5 million.
Part of the funds came from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which is owned by Syed Mokhtar. - Mkini
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