KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that he will leave it Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) supreme council to decide whether he should remain as party president.
The former prime minister’s comments came after he was charged with alleged abuse of power and money laundering over projects launched during his administration.
“I was elected Bersatu president by the party’s members. Now, I will leave it to the supreme council to decide on my position,” he said during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur courts complex today.
He also expressed his gratitude to his supporters and urged them to remain civil and not organise any street protest.
“To the members of Bersatu, Perikatan Nasional supporters and the people as a whole, I truly appreciate your support. Remain calm and give me the chance to defend myself through the legal process.
“I will not invite my brothers and sisters to take to the streets in my defence. This is a time of economic turmoil due to Covid-19. People are experiencing hardship. I do not want to burden the people with defending me. All of us must obey the law and maintain the peace of the country,” he added.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin was slapped with four counts of corruption and two counts of money laundering making him the second former prime minister accused of soliciting bribes and embezzling public funds.
For the first four counts, Muhyiddin was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act for using his office or position to get gratification from several entities amounting to over RM230 million.
If convicted, Muhyiddin faces an imprisonment term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification received under the said offence, where such gratification is capable of being valued or is of a pecuniary nature, or RM10,000, whichever is the higher.
The remaining two charges of money laundering were due to Muhyiddin being alleged to have deposited up to RM195 million in proceeds believed to be bribes in a CIMB account belonging to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on two separate occasions between February and June 2021 and February and July 2022.
The charges were filed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
