SHAH ALAM - Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin describes the allegations of embezzlement of RM92.5 billion in government funds related to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) as a fabrication and 'a terrible lie'.
The Pagoh MP in a Facebook post on Tuesday, said the assumption that he and Bersatu have funds amounting to RM4.5 billion were false.
"The RM92.5 billion fund embezzlement is a fabrication. The fiscal expenditure under the economic stimulus package is not in the form of projects that could be embezzled; most of it is direct cash to the people, such as the Bantuan Prihatin National (BPN), Prihatin Grants, and Wage subsidies.
"How can these funds be embezzled if they were cash gifts to the people? The commission collections were between three and five per cent of the fiscal expenditures, which were also fabrications.
"How can I collect commissions from these expenditures? Did the 10.6 million individuals who received the BPN give me the commission? Did the 2.96 million workers who received the wage subsidies give me commissions? Surely they didn’t," he said.
On Jan 6, Sinar reported that a chief executive of a company was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of collecting three to five per cent commissions from contractors who wanted a government contract.
Sources said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had opened several investigation papers involving five individuals suspected to playing the role of middlemen on several government contracts through direct negotiations.
The contracts were stated to be valued between RM50 million and RM500 million under the Economic Stimulus Package, where the total funds amounted to RM92 billion.
The Bersatu president said the party’s account was managed transparently, with each transaction recorded, audited, and tabled in the Annual General Meeting following the party’s constitution and the Establishment Act 1966.
The former prime minister said each contribution for the election funds was transferred into the party’s account, and he believes that Bersatu would not go against any current laws.
"Regarding PN’s election expenditure that was quoted as lavish with multiple flags, shirts, and ‘merchandise’, I want to share my side of the story.
"As a saving measure, Bersatu printed the flags and PN merchandise as bulk orders two years earlier at a cost four times cheaper compared to printing it near the election," he said.
He said PN had made the decision not to change the flags and logos used in the 15th General Election (GE15) due to its choice.
Muhyiddin said he did not reject the possibility that the allegations of fund embezzlement by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN against PN were used to tarnish the party.
"I hope MACC will investigate the case transparently and fairly. I am confident the MACC's investigation on allegation of RM4.5 billion in Bersatu’s account or mine were false.
"I have never taken a single cent that is not mine, Bersatu will give its full cooperation to MACC in the investigations," he said.
The Pagoh MP in a Facebook post on Tuesday, said the assumption that he and Bersatu have funds amounting to RM4.5 billion were false.
"The RM92.5 billion fund embezzlement is a fabrication. The fiscal expenditure under the economic stimulus package is not in the form of projects that could be embezzled; most of it is direct cash to the people, such as the Bantuan Prihatin National (BPN), Prihatin Grants, and Wage subsidies.
"How can these funds be embezzled if they were cash gifts to the people? The commission collections were between three and five per cent of the fiscal expenditures, which were also fabrications.
"How can I collect commissions from these expenditures? Did the 10.6 million individuals who received the BPN give me the commission? Did the 2.96 million workers who received the wage subsidies give me commissions? Surely they didn’t," he said.
On Jan 6, Sinar reported that a chief executive of a company was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of collecting three to five per cent commissions from contractors who wanted a government contract.
Sources said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had opened several investigation papers involving five individuals suspected to playing the role of middlemen on several government contracts through direct negotiations.
The contracts were stated to be valued between RM50 million and RM500 million under the Economic Stimulus Package, where the total funds amounted to RM92 billion.
The Bersatu president said the party’s account was managed transparently, with each transaction recorded, audited, and tabled in the Annual General Meeting following the party’s constitution and the Establishment Act 1966.
The former prime minister said each contribution for the election funds was transferred into the party’s account, and he believes that Bersatu would not go against any current laws.
"Regarding PN’s election expenditure that was quoted as lavish with multiple flags, shirts, and ‘merchandise’, I want to share my side of the story.
"As a saving measure, Bersatu printed the flags and PN merchandise as bulk orders two years earlier at a cost four times cheaper compared to printing it near the election," he said.
He said PN had made the decision not to change the flags and logos used in the 15th General Election (GE15) due to its choice.
Muhyiddin said he did not reject the possibility that the allegations of fund embezzlement by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN against PN were used to tarnish the party.
"I hope MACC will investigate the case transparently and fairly. I am confident the MACC's investigation on allegation of RM4.5 billion in Bersatu’s account or mine were false.
"I have never taken a single cent that is not mine, Bersatu will give its full cooperation to MACC in the investigations," he said.