SHAH ALAM - Bersatu has claimed the remand of its treasurer Datuk Mohd Salleh Bajuri as an effort to add pressure of its leaders and officers through fabricated offences.
Its secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said it was the same form of action as that faced by Bersatu vendors in the continuous political manhunt from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN-led government.
Hamzah said Salleh was remanded for two days on March 2 and 3.
"On March 1 he was asked to attend at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya.
"It was to provide statements regarding payments to a Bersatu supplier and vendor,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
He explained that Salleh since January had given his full cooperation to MACC’s investigations.
"He would attend when called and provide the documents as requested,” he said.
However, Hamzah said he was informed on March 1, that Salleh was called urgently and he was remanded by the MACC.
"There were no reasonable grounds for the MACC to apply for Salleh’s remand on the grounds of investigation as he was always present and gave his full cooperation when needed,” he claimed.
Hamzah said Bersatu’s financial statements were audited every year and approved in the Annual General Meeting.
He said the financial statements were verified by accredited auditors and nothing out of the ordinary was found.
Hamzah added Salleh had integrity and was a trusted Treasurer-General who ensured all acquisitions made by Bersatu adhered to the party’s financial processes and procedures.
He urged the PH-BN government to stop performing this unrelenting political manhunt towards Bersatu.
"Accept the fact that the Bersatu leadership has done nothing wrong legally,” he claimed.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed Salleh was arrested to aid investigations regarding the party’s funds expenditures.
On Feb 1, MACC confirmed several Bersatu accounts were frozen to aid investigations on funds that were suspected to be obtained illegally.
Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was reported to have been called by the MACC to provide statements on the issue involving RM300 million allegedly received by Bersatu.