Kuala Lumpur Bersatu Youth chief Safwan Manoga accused Anwar of threatening to investigate his political opponents if they do not “return money and assets stolen from the rakyat”.

Anwar is alleged to have said this during a speech at a “Jelajah Madani” programme in Machang, Kelantan.

The report against deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is over his announcement last Friday on RM500,000 in grants for youths in Terengganu, where he had allegedly asked them to vote for the “blue and red wave” at the polls.

Terengganu is one of six states that will go to the ballot box on Aug 12.

Safwan said Anwar had abused his power by using information obtained in his capacity as prime minister and finance minister to threaten Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders.

He claimed Anwar’s remarks were purely aimed at giving a negative perception about PN, adding that his speech had gone viral online.

Safwan also accused the prime minister of threatening to use enforcement agencies to carry out selective investigation and prosecution against the opposition coalition.

On Zahid, Safwan said the announcement and a promise of more funds if the polls results favour them was an abuse of power. He added that it gave rise to an election offence as it “constituted a bribe”.

Yesterday, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki said Zahid’s remarks did not constitute an offence as the allocations were federal-level initiatives.

Anwar also defended his deputy, saying that the funds had nothing to do with the state polls and that Putrajaya cannot stop making important announcements just because of the elections.