KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has claimed today that no party in Malaysia has the capacity to fund its own campaigning or party programmes without outside financial backing.

Justifying his challenge to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate others besides his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, he said many of them receive funding from overseas but do not declare such contributions.

Muhyiddin, the MP for Pagoh, said Bersatu’s accounts being frozen was uncalled for since the authorities did not treat the other political parties in the same way.

"I challenged the MACC to investigate them because they said only we were doing such things. If [the political parties] say they can find their own money by doing business then that’s okay, but I’m pretty sure a lot of them got money from their supporters, donations, corporate bodies and individuals.

"There is also a huge probability these political parties got their money from overseas. Can they declare that they have gotten no funds from anyone outside of Malaysia?” Muhyiddin asked when met by a reporter after Bersatu’s fifth annual general meeting today.

Despite his assertion, he did not provide any proof to back this.

"I believe there are many parties in Malaysia who want to do lots of programmes, but they need money. Now if you say you had a company and your company is doing well, making you billions, then no one can dispute it. God bless them, good for you.

"In the past, even Umno had businesses, now they’re all gone, so if we want to be serious then investigate all the parties and find out what’s really happening, not just prosecute us,” he added.

In February, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) froze Bersatu’s accounts to facilitate investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

On Friday, Muhyiddin was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on six charges, involving four offences for using a position to obtain a bribe of RM232.5 million and two offences of money laundering involving RM195 million.

Earlier today, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he is prepared to face any investigation by the authorities on allegations of wrongdoing, following a challenge from Muhyiddin.

He also advised the Pagoh MP to face the criminal charges levelled against the latter with an open heart.