Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to be charged with corruption | Corruption News
A veteran politician questioned about funds allegedly funneled by construction contractors to his party in exchange for projects.
Muhyiddin Yassin, who served as Malaysia’s prime minister while the country was in lockdown due to COVID-19, is expected to be charged with corruption on Friday over the alleged embezzlement of funds to his party.
Muhyiddin voluntarily questioned himself Thursday morning before the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over allegations that construction contractors deposited money in his Bersatu party’s accounts in exchange for contracts during the pandemic.
MACC chief Azam Baki told the official Bernama news agency that the former prime minister will appear in court on Friday.
Muhyiddin, who was pictured praying and surrounded by supporters before heading to the MACC office, denied the allegations and said he was the target of a political vendetta.
A number of other Bersatu politicians were questioned over the allegations and two were charged.
Muhyiddin became Prime Minister in March 2020 after a week of political paralysis caused by an internal power struggle within the reformist coalition that came to power after historic elections in 2018 and of which he had once been a part.
He lost his job in 2021 to more political maneuverand his coalition then lost a hard-fought election to Anwar in November.
Anwar vowed to crack down on corruption, ordering a review of government relief programs during the pandemic.
Najib Razak, who was once Muhyiddin’s boss and Anwar’s colleague, became the first Malaysian prime minister to be sent to jail when he was convicted of corruption in a case related to the multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB. He faces a number of other lawsuits on 1MDB.
