Bersatu rep claims 'lavish' spending by rivals PH, BN during GE15, calls for MACC probe
KUALA LUMPUR Feb 8 — A Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) representative has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN), calling for an investigation into the alleged “lavish” spending by both coalitions during the 15th general election (GE15).
News portal Channel News Asia (CNA) reported Puchong Bersatu division chief Mohd Shukor Mustaffa as saying that both PH and BN had used large quantities of posters and flags during the GE15 campaigning period, on top of holding grand talks.
He also urged MACC to investigate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, claiming that he used a “luxury helicopter” while campaigning for GE15 last year.
“We hope that a comprehensive investigation by MACC can be carried out on PH and BN, especially against Anwar and his family,” Shukor told reporters after lodging the report at the MACC headquarters here yesterday.
Shukor, who represented Bersatu urged MACC to take immediate action.
He also questioned how Anwar and his daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, were able to live lavishly despite not taking any pay in their posts as prime minister and senior economic and financial adviser to the prime minister.
“Who funds them? Is there a tycoon backing the family?
“This raises questions on the true sources that fund PH and BN under the leadership of Anwar and Zahid,” said Shukor, referring to Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is the deputy prime minister and also BN chairman.
On the ongoing graft probe against Bersatu, CNA quoted Shukor as saying that the allegations against his party were attempts by Anwar and Ahmad Zahid at putting the party at a disadvantage for the coming state elections.
“Various accusations and insults were thrown at Bersatu to build a negative perception (of the party), especially at a time when we are getting closer to the six state elections,” he said.
Shukor hoped a comprehensive investigation into PH and BN as well as Anwar and his family would be conducted by MACC.
The report follows a call by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s senior aide Datuk Marzuki Mohamad last week for the MACC to probe PKR and DAP over their GE15 expenditures, including the source of their funds.
This came after MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki announced on February 1 that the agency had frozen several Bersatu bank accounts as part of its investigation.
It was reported that the accounts in question were frozen as part of the MACC’s probe into alleged irregularities in the use of RM600 billion worth of public funds meant for the Covid-19 pandemic by the previous administration under Muhyiddin who is the Bersatu president.
On December 6, Azam announced that MACC had opened an investigation paper into the allegations.
However, several news reports also suggested that the MACC action was linked to allegations that Bersatu received donations from about 10 contractors who are said to have procured various projects when the party was in government.
It is thought the donations amounted to more than RM300 million.
