He said Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had fully supported a similar move by MACC to freeze Umno’s accounts in 2018 as part of an investigation into the 1MDB scandal. Muhyiddin was the then home minister.
“Muhyiddin even praised the MACC’s professionalism,” Anwar said at a press conference here this evening with PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli and secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Anwar said the government had no desire to interfere with the process. “If you’re clean, then don’t be scared,” he said.
On the brink of ruin because of corruption
He called for enforcement and legislative bodies to be provided space to carry out their task of combating corruption and abuse of power.
“This country is on the brink of being ruined because excesses and corruption have become part of a system that is not easily dismantled.
“Believe me that after several months in the government, I am confident this problem is one that is truly complicated and difficult to take down.
“And that is why political leaders should not be using religious and racial arguments to question anti-corruption efforts,” he said, Bernama reported.
Anwar said he was making this call because there were some who had been citing petty religious points to defend corruption and abuse of power.
However, no religion, including Islam, can be used to defend such tainted acts, “what more Islam which firmly rejects abuse of power and destruction of a system caused by corruption that has been rampant in this country”.
Last week, MACC chief Azam Baki confirmed that Bersatu’s accounts had been frozen under the law against money laundering. It is understood the action is linked to an investigation into alleged misappropriation of billions of ringgit meant for Covid-19 stimulus packages.
On Thursday, Muhyiddin said the party will write to MACC seeking the immediate lifting of the freeze if MACC did not find any proof of misappropriation of funds or abuse of power.
Earlier today, Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the party received huge contributions from corporate companies and businesses, with transactions recorded in bank accounts.
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