'I'll sue those saying I am corrupt', says Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has vowed legal action against those who insinuate that he is corrupt.

The former prime minister added that he did not take a single sen from the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.

He said that the claims were meant to tarnish his name and those making accusations should prove it.

"I have informed the MACC that I am not guilty and they seemed satisfied. I hope these matters are not raised again," added the Perikatan Nasional chairman.

"My lawyer is looking at taking legal action and we will not stop at that alone," he said.

"The Public Accounts Committee has looked into the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines but there are some who intend to go further and connect my name to bribery," said Muhyiddin.

The Pagoh MP said he was at a loss as to why such accusations were being thrown at him.

"I do not know why all these accusations are being thrown at me now. Perhaps because we will be facing six state elections so I can be painted as the bad guy and they (political rivals) can win.

"I have been with the government for 50 years – I never had cases of misuse of power or bribery. I follow the rules. I hold on to the law and I have principles.

"I was also once the prime minister. Such insinuations should not have been made.

"I am also the Perikatan Nasional chairman and I know this is a political ploy so that the people are angered and think of me as a thief, a liar and that I had abused my authority.

"If I had misused my power, all the provisions (for contracts and as such) were under the authority of the Finance Ministry.

"Even if I had approved it then, it would not be valid as I did not have the authority to do so.

"Those who donated to party funds were those who supported our struggle and those who believed what Perikatan stands for. It had nothing to do with Jana Wibawa (program under the Finance Ministry)," said Muhyiddin.

MACC had frozen the accounts of Bersatu in the course of investigating allegations that the party had received funds from contractors chosen under the Jana Wibawa programme during Muhyiddin's tenure as the eighth prime minister.

On Feb 16, Muhyiddin was called in by MACC for questioning on the allegations made against him concerning Jana Wibawa, a programme by the Finance Ministry to assist bumiputra contractors affected during the Covid-19 pandemic.