I’m innocent, I’ll have my day in court, says Muhyiddin

 

Muhyiddin Yassin was questioned by the MACC for more than nine hours today.

PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said he did not commit any wrongdoing and he would prove his innocence in court.

Speaking to reporters after having his statement recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Muhyiddin said the charges against him were political in nature and he was merely executing a Cabinet decision.

“I was merely executing a decision made by the Cabinet. The prime minister’s office was required to extend an application for a project for the consideration of the finance ministry in accordance with the rules in place,” he said.

“I never gave any instructions or influenced the decisions made by the finance ministry.

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“The seven charges against me are to humiliate me and drag me to court. I am innocent and I will answer these charges in court,” he said.

Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said he had never met with the contractor who was awarded the project or received any money from them.

Muhyiddin said he was also questioned about a foundation’s appeal to cancel a tax exemption. 

He said the appeal was considered by the ministry of finance and the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and approved by them. 

The Perikatan Nasional chairman also said that the charges against him stemmed from Pakatan Harapan’s fear of losing badly at the upcoming state polls.

“Anwar (Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim) knows that Bersatu has strong support from the Malays and Bumiputeras and that we will win in the state elections. We are confident.

“Anwar and PH and those working with them will be punished by the people,” he said.

On whether he would resign as party president, Muhyiddin said it would be decided later.

He also dismissed the possibility of Bersatu supporters rioting due to the charges levelled against him.

“I don’t think they will riot. We are a peaceful party, we don’t want to follow (in the footsteps of) Anwar during his reformasi days. People are facing hardship. It is not the right thing to do.”

Earlier today, Muhyiddin was detained by the MACC in connection with the agency’s probe into the Jana Wibawa programme. He was allowed to leave after more than nine hours at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Putrajaya.

He will be charged at the Jalan Duta court in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow morning and again in the Shah Alam court on Monday.

He is facing several charges under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).

Section 23 of the MACC Act sets out the offence of using one’s office or position for gratification and carries a penalty of up to 20 years’ jail as well as a fine five times the value of the gratification involved, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Section 4(1)(b) of the AMLATFPUAA refers to the offence of “acquiring, receiving, possessing, disguising, transferring, converting, exchanging, carrying, disposing or using the proceeds of an unlawful activity”. It carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ jail and a fine five times the value of the proceeds at the time the offence was committed, or RM5 million, whichever is greater. - FMT