Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (centre) with Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (right) and Datuk Seri Roland Kiandee arriving at Kuala Lumpur Session Court. - AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu has become a victim of selective prosecution, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after the party’s information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan was slapped with two charges of corruption.
"Today, Bersatu has become a victim of selective prosecution. Receiving political funds has suddenly become a crime," he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on Tuesday (Feb 21).
"Why do I call this a selective prosecution? Parties within the government especially Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional have also received funds from businessmen and the public but their leaders have not been charged in court.
"This selective prosecution has taken place when both Pakatan and Barisan are failing to resolve the problems of the people and are set to be rejected in the upcoming six state elections," he added.
The Bersatu president arrived at the court complex at 8.58am, accompanied by other party senior leaders including secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, vice-presidents Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee and Datuk Radzi Jidin as well as youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu had already anticipated such a move from the Pakatan-Barisan government as a means to weaken the party after realising the strong support that Bersatu had received in the 15th General Elections(GE15).
"The funds received by Bersatu are legitimate and have not breached the law. Despite the selective prosecution of certain Bersatu leaders, I am confident of a fair and appropriate trial by the courts. The people’s court will punish Pakatan and Barisan for a witch-hunt against their political foes," he added.
On being probed by MACC himself, Muhyiddin said as far as he was concerned, there was no wrongdoing on his part.
"As far as I am concerned there is no wrongdoing on my part but whatever it is I leave it to the MACC," he said.
He urged Bersatu members to be calm, adding that the party leadership would take the appropriate action through legal channels.
Muhyiddin also said that there was no law on political donations.
Commenting on Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s comment last month that a new "court cluster" would emerge from Perikatan Nasional, Muhyiddin claimed that this was a precursor of what was to come.
"I feel this is planned. The intentions are not good. We have made police reports on 11 issues related to the government of the day," he said.
Wan Saiful has claimed trial to two charges of corruption in connection to the Jana Wibawa programme involving more than RM6.9mil.
He pleaded not guilty after the two charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.
