Stop the witch hunt, Hamzah urges govt

PETALING JAYA: The arrest of Bersatu treasurer Datuk Mohd Salleh Bajuri on March 1 is part of an "endless witch-hunt" by the government to shame Bersatu leaders, claims Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

The Bersatu secretary-general alleged that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) act of hauling up Mohd Salleh and remanding him for two days were baseless.

"Stop the witch hunt on Bersatu. The government must accept the fact that the Bersatu leadership has done nothing illegal.

"Mohd Salleh was called up to the MACC in Putrajaya to explain payments by Bersatu suppliers and vendors to the party," Hamzah said, adding that as party treasurer, Mohd Salleh had ensured all Bersatu revenue was obtained through due process and party financial ethics.

"Mohd Salleh has given full cooperation to MACC since January. Every time he was called, he went. Every time documents were requested, he handed them over. Never has he refused.

"On March 1, he was called to the MACC and when he gave his statement, he was arrested and remanded.

"There was no plausible reason for a remand to keep him for investigations as he had always provided full cooperation.

"The remand on Mohd Salleh is to pressure Bersatu officials and leaders to find wrongs which do not exist.

"Bersatu accounts are audited annually and passed by the party general assembly. There is nothing disorderly found in the accounts, which was approved by chartered auditors," said Hamzah in a statement on Saturday (March 4).

On Thursday (March 2), Mohd Salleh was remanded for two days and released on Friday (March 3).

Former Bersatu information chief and Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut division deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad have since been charged in court.

They were alleged to have collected funds from the award of projects during the tenure of party chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.