Bersatu’s accounts frozen

PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators have frozen the accounts of Bersatu to look into its money flow and the RM300mil the party is said to have received.

Sources with close knowledge of the investigation said it was believed the money that Bersatu had received was from contractors who had been awarded contracts during the then administration.

The accounts were frozen about a fortnight ago for investigators to carry out the probe, said the source.

The same source added that when investigators froze Bersatu accounts, it was left with RM40mil.

It is learnt that the MACC had summoned and arrested several individuals over the past three weeks in the course of investigation. However, sources declined to give details.

Sources also did not rule out the possibility that Bersatu leaders would be called to assist investigations.

It is learnt that the party treasurer-general had been called for his statement to be recorded.

On whether Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would be called up, sources said investigators did not rule out the possibility, if it was warranted.

When contacted, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that Bersatu accounts were frozen.“It is not related to the Covid-19 funds. We froze the accounts sometime back, about two weeks ago,” he said.

He said the probe was under the MACC Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.

Azam said investigations were still in its early stage, calling for space to be given for his officers to carry out their work.

When contacted, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the party had given full cooperation to the MACC during the course of investigations before the accounts were frozen.

He said that MACC officers had visited the Bersatu headquarters early last month, stating that they were investigating alleged misappropriations involving the party’s funds.

In January, a man with close links to Bersatu’s top leadership was arrested by MACC over alleged graft allegations related to brokering of government projects.

It is understood that the man, a Bersatu division leader from the Federal Territories, was probed in relation to the alleged misappropriation of the RM92.5bil Covid-19 stimulus package funds under the former Perikatan Nasional government.

The Star also reported last month that the man was arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya after giving his statement.

The 42-year-old is the chief executive officer of a private company which allegedly acted as a middleman for the distribution of the economic stimulus packages from 2020 to 2022.

The suspect also allegedly took bribes to connect contractors with government higher-ups.

Previously, the MACC had said in a statement that investigations were focused on the RM92.5bil under the stimulus and economic recovery packages.

Investigation papers have been opened on at least five people believed to be masterminds or middlemen for several companies that had obtained projects ranging from RM50mil to RM500mil via direct negotiations.

Sources added that 90% of the projects obtained via direct negotiations had not been executed as no acceptance letters were issued.