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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright February 2023
Coming out of the interview at SPRM, Muhyiddin declared he is "squeaky clean" (beyond reproach; without vice) as referred to by Sinar Daily and has plans to sue PMX for slander.
The term squeaky clean is used in a headline by Sinar Daily in reference to Muhyiddin Yassin's untarnished records as a politician.
That's an interesting twist of events that unfolded this week.
A few days before, Muhyiddin launched an attack against Anwar in Parliament whom he said "defamed" him for saying that he was involved in the misappropriation of billions of state funds.
Anwar was away then on a brief trip to Turkiye to be with our rescue teams on the ground and to meet Erdogan to comvey his condolence in person.
Some political commentators like RPK alleged that Anwar went away to avoid facing Muhyiddin in Parliament.
On Friday, February 18, News reports say soon after his meeting with SPRM Muhyiddin announced that his record as a politician for 50 years is clean and untarnished.
That he has no criminal charges leveled against him and claimed his innocence in the probe on irregularities over disbursement and procurements under the Covid-19 Stimulus Package under his administration.
Logically then, the next step for Muhyiddin to take, if he is sure of himself, he is beyond reproach, without vice, is of course to sue Anwar for defamation like he said he would in Parliament. (Sinar Daily)
To support his claims that Anwar slandered him, Muhyiddin said the MACC called him not as a “suspect” but instead to merely give explanations in the process of investigations.
He added, “The MACC officer informed me that I was not a suspect but was called in merely to give explanations in the process of investigations."
Prior to his interview by MACC many speculated that Muhyiddin could be charged for billions involved that were allegedly misappropriated during his administration.
But he came out of the MACC headquarters more confident than ever about his innocence.
Muhyiddin claimed Anwar deliberately made several statements to smear his name by raising the issue of corruption and misuse of power which he allegedly committed when he led the government.
"These accusations levelled against me are in an attempt to smear my good name....If the prime minister (Anwar) has made accusations, he must prove it....(And) I've told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers that I am innocent. It seems that they were satisfied with it. I hope this matter will not be raised again." (NST)
It looks like another legal suit is headed for the courts.
Muhyiddin seems sure of himself and chances are a defamation suit might be filed and Anwar may find difficulty in defending himself since most media services have published his allegations levelled against Muhyiddin in the months since he came into power.
However, as a footnote, the day after he made the above statement, MACC said "Former Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is a suspect in the Jana Wibawa project probe when he was called in to provide a statement at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)."
So may be he is not beyond reproach or without vice after all then!
According to the MACC source, as a suspect, the Pagoh member of parliament should not make speculative comments because such matters could interfere with the anti-graft agency's investigation.
Now that's another twist to the story. We'll see what is in store in coming weeks.
It's a see-saw political scenario of squeaky or not so squeaky clean story. One minute you are beyond reproach and next minute you might not be free of vice after all!
It's a case of now you see, now you don't.
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