KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu is exploring legal action against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the prolonged freezing of its bank accounts, said party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Confirming that the party had consulted its legal team on the matter, Muhyiddin revealed that the potential lawsuit may also target the bank holding Bersatu’s accounts, citing its refusal to release the funds.
“I have held discussions with our lawyers and asked them to look into the matter of initiating legal action against authorities responsible as well as against the bank that is preventing us from accessing our funds,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference after Bersatu’s annual general assembly today, Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, highlighted that since no court charges have been brought to date against the party, the freezing of its accounts is “unjust and cruel”.
“As an organisation, Bersatu has never been charged for any wrongdoing…as a big political party, how are we supposed to survive if the government treats us like this?” he questioned.
He also said that the party’s lawyers had recently attended a court hearing where the judge postponed delivering a ruling on Bersatu’s bid to challenge the anti-graft agency’s decision to freeze its funds.
While the next hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2025, Muhyiddin said Bersatu’s lawyers are of the opinion that the return and reactivation of their accounts is justified under existing laws which state that accounts can only be frozen for up to 12 months.
“It’s not even appropriate for authorities to freeze (the accounts) for 12 months, but now it has been longer than that and the accounts are still frozen.
“We believe this action is illegal and could even be considered an abuse of power. No agency, including the MACC, should be able to violate what is stipulated by the laws of our nation,” he added.
Muhyiddin disclosed that the RM400,000 required to organise the assembly was “shamelessly” collected from members, lamenting the party’s inability to open a new bank account and warning of potential operational disruptions.
“This is very bad. To me, this is a violation of our constitution and the law. It should not be allowed to continue.”
On February 1 last year, the MACC confirmed freezing two of Bersatu’s accounts to aid investigations into the party’s funding sources, with the probe conducted under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The investigation is linked to the alleged misappropriation of RM92.5 billion worth of funds for Covid-19 stimulus packages by the former PN-led government.
On a separate matter, Muhyiddin also said that PN will campaign on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) in the upcoming Sabah state election, set to take place by December next year.
In affirming his agreement to a request from Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, who appealed for the issue to be included in the party’s election manifesto, Muhyiddin said that MA63 will be one of the main factors in PN’s election promises for the East Malaysian state.
Muhyiddin also said that several matters will be discussed during a meeting with PN leadership next week, including its ‘poster boy’ for the Sabah state election as well as whether the coalition will be heading to the polls solo or combining forces with other Sabahan political parties.
The meeting, he said, will also touch on a PAS leader’s claim that the Islamist party, with its MPs outnumbering Bersatu, is better suited to lead PN as it is equipped with stronger grassroot machinery.
“It’s okay, they (PAS) have a right to say so and I don’t have a right to claim. An eventual decision on what is best for the coalition will be made by all of PN’s leaders, not just me,” Muhyiddin said.
He added that the meeting will also see talks on Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s appointment as secretary-general for both Bersatu and PN, which has allegedly caused dissatisfaction within PAS.
While Muhyiddin highlighted that PN’s constitution stipulates that the coalition chairman is allowed to appoint a secretary-general and their deputy, he said that the matter will nonetheless be brought up for discussions.
Following Muhyiddin’s confirmation of his move to appoint Azmin for the post, PAS Youth had proposed that the role of PN secretary-general instead be given to PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan. – December 1, 2024