Malaysia ex-PM Muhyiddin Yassin set to be charged for corruption

Veteran politician questioned about funds allegedly funneled from construction contractors to his party in exchange for projects.

Muhyiddin Yassin, who was Prime Minister of Malaysia when the country went into lockdown due to COVID-19, is expected to be charged with corruption on Friday over the alleged misuse of funds to his party.

Muhyiddin voluntarily went for questioning to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Thursday morning over allegations that contractors had been pouring money into his Bersatu party’s accounts in exchange for contracts during the pandemic.

MACC chief Azam Baki told state news agency Bernama that the former prime minister will appear in court on Friday.

Muhyiddin, who was pictured praying and surrounded by supporters before entering the MACC office, has denied the allegations and said he is the target of a political vendetta.

A number of other Bersatu politicians have been questioned about the allegations and two have been charged.

Muhyiddin became prime minister in March 2020 after a week of political paralysis caused by an internal power struggle within the reformist coalition that came to power following historic elections in 2018 and of which he was once a member.

He lost the job in 2021 due to more political maneuvering, and his coalition subsequently lost a hard-fought election to Anwar in November.

Anwar has pledged to crack down on corruption and order a review of government aid programs during the pandemic.

Najib Razak, once Muhyiddin’s boss and Anwar’s colleague, became the first Malaysian prime minister to be sent to prison when he was found guilty of corruption in a case linked to the billion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB. It stands for some other processes about 1MDB.