RM90 billion embezzlement probe must continue, might find new court cluster - Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR - Umno demands the government to continue its forensic audit on the misappropriation of funds -- to the tunes of RM90 billion -- done by the previous Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration, claiming that the matter is of utmost public interest.

The call was made by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his policy speech at today’s 2022 General Assembly, adding that the recent arrest of the supposed middleman who allegedly abetted the wrongdoing was a good start.

“It is a clear signal of the government’s commitment in identifying those responsible for the matter. This is the hope of the people and the obligation of the government.

"They call us the court cluster and now perhaps they will actually become one.

“They claim to be a clean and caring bunch but whether those who do it truly cared for the people or were merely concerned with their in-laws. We shall see,” said Zahid over the controversy.

PN and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin caught controversy following the arrest of a chief executive officer of a private company accused of aiding crony companies to procure government contracts linked to Covid-19 stimulus, last week.

The suspect had allegedly accepted bribes to connect contractors and other parties with several government agencies that were giving out the contracts.

The investigation is part of the probe into allegations that portions of the over RM90 billion in pandemic stimulus money had allegedly been embezzled by firms said to be connected to leaders from PN.