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KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has claimed political prosecution after two of his party members were dragged to court today on allegations of soliciting and receiving bribes in exchange for lucrative government contracts.
Muhyiddin said that the government led by Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional is engaging in a “witch hunt” to further cripple his party ahead of the six state elections to be held this year.
The Pagoh MP said that his claims of selective prosecution are justified after Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had alluded that a new “court cluster” would consist of Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders.
“Umno president (Zahid) even foreshadowed this event when he claimed that a new court cluster would emerge from PN.
“It is as if these events were already planned,” he said during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex today.
The PN chairman said the people will “punish” the unity government for engaging in a witch hunt after allegedly failing to address the nation’s economic and social woes.
Earlier today, Bersatu Information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad were charged in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court for bribery and soliciting from private firms to allegedly help them secure lucrative contracts under the Jana Wibawa government initiative.
Muhyiddin said that it is not an offence for a political party to seek funds from businessmen who believe in their party’s struggle.
He also stated that Bersatu only received political funds from credible sources and that this is not in breach of any laws as there are no specific laws to govern political funding in the country.
Muhyiddin also claimed that no other political leaders from PH or BN had been charged or prosecuted for receiving political donations, reiterating that Bersatu is facing selective prosecution from the unity government.
Apart from Wan Saiful and Adam, Muhyiddin was also reportedly a suspect in the investigations pertaining to the Jana Wibawa initiative.
The PN chairman refuted this after being questioned by MACC recently, saying he had been interviewed as a witness. – The Vibes, February 21, 2023
