Muhyiddin: It’s selective prosecution

KUALA LUMPUR: Lambasting the charging of Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan for corruption as an act of selective prosecution, former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s comment last month was a precursor that such moves would come from the unity government to weaken its political foes.

Commenting on the Umno chief’s comment that a “new court cluster” would emerge from Perikatan Nasional, Muhyiddin, who is chief of Perikatan and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, said the charging of Wan Saiful reflects that.

“I feel this is planned. The intentions are not good,” he said, adding that Bersatu had already anticipated such a move from the unity government as a means to weaken the party after realising the strong support that Bersatu had received in the 15th General Election (GE15).

“Today, Bersatu has become a victim of selective prosecution. Receiving political funds has suddenly become a crime,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex yesterdy, as he led a group of senior Bersatu officials in a show of support for Wan Saiful.

“Why do I call this a selective prosecution? Parties within the government especially Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional have also received funds from businessmen and the public but their leaders have not been charged in court.

“The funds received by Bersatu are legitimate and have not breached the law,” said Muhyiddin, who arrived at the court complex at 8.58am, accompanied by party leaders that included secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, vice-presidents Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee and Datuk Radzi Jidin, as well as youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

Supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali arrived at the court complex separately.

“The statement by the Umno president a few months ago shows that there were plans to weaken Bersatu and Perikatan, and of course, this is another proof of Pakatan and their new friend Umno’s fear, given the strong support (at the polls) for Perikatan,” said Muhyiddin, who added the party leadership will take appropriate action through legal channels.

“Despite the selective prosecution of certain Bersatu leaders, I am confident of a fair trial by the courts. The people’s court will punish Pakatan and Barisan for the witch hunt against their political foes.

“This selective prosecution has taken place when both Pakatan and Barisan are unable to resolve the problems of the people, and are set to be rejected in the six upcoming state elections,’’ said Muhyiddin.

On being probed by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) himself, he said as far as he was concerned, he has nothing to fear.

“There is no wrongdoing on my part, but whatever it is, I leave it to MACC,” he said, while also urging Bersatu members to remain calm.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said Bersatu is appealing to MACC to lift the freeze on its accounts, as the party requires funds to operate as well as prepare for the upcoming state polls.

“Our accounts are frozen and it has been more than a month plus, and of course, it has affected the way we manage the party,” he said.