Former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was yesterday grilled by anti-graft commission officials for a second time in a matter of weeks, and reportedly could be charged over alleged corruption connected to the awarding of government contracts while he was in office.
Muhyiddin would be charged in court today, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) head Azam Baki told state news agency Bernama, without giving details.
A large crowd of supporters gathered outside the commission’s building yesterday, chanting: “Fight! Fight,” and “Allahu Akbar [God is great],” as they accused Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government of political persecution.
Photo: AP
Muhyiddin, 75, got out of his car and prayed with his supporters before he went into the building.
In a statement on Facebook hours earlier, he denied rumors that he had been arrested on Wednesday while playing golf.
He said that he was summoned to the commission, but did not say why.
If Muhyiddin is charged, he will be the second former Malaysian leader to be indicted after leaving office.
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was handed multiple graft charges after he lost the 2018 general elections, and began a 12-year jail term in August last year after losing a final appeal in the first of several graft cases.
Anwar took office in November last year. He has denied that the case against Muhyiddin is politically motivated, telling local media that the investigation was independently carried out by the anti-corruption commission.
“If you said all cases are politically motivated, then how are we going to arrest people for big corruption cases?” the Malay Mail cited him as saying.
Anwar, who is also Malaysian minister of finance, last year ordered a review of government projects approved by past administrations, including billions of US dollars in COVID-19 economic aid programs.
He has said some projects were awarded without proper procedures.
Muhyiddin was Malaysian prime minister from March 2020 to August 2021. He was first questioned by the anti-corruption commission last month, and has denied any wrongdoing.
Two senior leaders from his Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU) were recently charged with corruption connected with the projects.
The commission has frozen the party’s accounts to facilitate investigations into suspected illegal proceeds.
Muhyddin leads a strong Islamic-dominated opposition coalition and has accused Anwar’s government of trying to tarnish his party ahead of state elections.
BERSATU information chief Razali Idris told reporters yesterday that he feared Muhyiddin might be arrested and charged in court.
He and other party leaders slammed that potential move as a ploy to maim the opposition.
Anwar and Muhyiddin battled to be prime minister after general elections in November last year produced a hung parliament.
Malaysian King Abdullah Ahmad Shah appointed Anwar as prime minister after he formed a unity government with several smaller parties.
His strength would be put to test in elections in six states in the coming months.
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