Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Malaysia ex-PM charged with corruption over Covid spending

Malaysia ex-PM charged with corruption over Covid spending

Malaysia's former prime minister who led during the height of the pandemic has been charged with corruption — a move that ratchets up already bitter political tensions in the country.
Muhyiddin Yassin, 75, was arrested just months after losing an election to PM Anwar Ibrahim in November.

The former PM has been accused of bribery and money laundering through his government's Covid spending fund.

He rejects the allegations, which his supporters say are politically driven.

The criminal case aimed at the leader of the conservative opposition alliance comes ahead of crucial state elections in July.

Muhyiddin is now the second former Malaysian prime minister to face corruption charges, after Najib Razak was jailed to 12 years for corruption involving the state's 1MDB investment firm.

Now the leader of a Malay-ethnic, Muslim alliance, Muhyiddin ran the country from 2020 to 2021 for 17 months.

He has a long-time rivalry with current PM Anwar. The two have a history of political betrayals that has fuelled a long enmity.

Multiple charges of bribery and money laundering were laid against the former leader in a Kuala Lumpur court on Friday.

Prosecutors have accused him of sourcing $51m (£42m) in bribes from companies who hoped to benefit from an emergency government spending programme. They have also alleged two instances of money laundering through the fund.

If convicted he faces 20 years in prison. Muhyiddin entered a not guilty plea in court on Friday and was released on bail - although his passport was withheld.

The opposition leader was charged just a dayafter appearing at an anti-corruption watchdog's probe into the allegations.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission launched the probe in February, freezing his party's bank accounts. Two former party leaders have also been arrested on corruption charges.

The incident further fuels tensions in Malaysian politics.

Muhyiddin's conservative ethnic-Malay, Muslim alliance was most popular among the country's majority Malay voter population in November's election.

But PM Anwar Ibrahim eventually secured power with a progressive, multi-ethnic coalition - after joining up with the once all-powerful but now disgraced United Malays National Organisation party (UMNO) which has been tainted by corruption. Anwar's deputy, the current UMNO leader, is also facing corruption charges.

July's state elections are being widely seen as a test of support for the current prime minister.

That has added to the strong belief among many of Mr Muhyiddin's supporters that his prosecution is political.

The case is being viewed by many Malaysians through the prism of intense rivalries which have shaken the country's politics since the historic defeat five years ago of the once unbeatable UMNO.

The country has seen five different prime ministers in as many years - a trial of a senior figure is inevitably viewed as a political event, observers say.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Budapest Post
Close
0:00
0:00
Jamie Dimon is being deposed over JPMorgan Chase role in Epstein lawsuits
Brand new security footage has just been released to the public showing the Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale drove to Covenant Church School in her Honda Fit this morning, parked, and shot her way into the building
AMERICA, 2023
U.S. charges FTX's Bankman-Fried with paying $40 million bribe
Fallen 'Crypto King' Who Owes Millions to Investors Was Kidnapped and Tortured
Regulators blame social media for SVB's rapid collapse: 'Complete game changer'
AOC explains why she opposes banning TikTok
UK: Humza Yousaf replaces Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister in Scotland
In a dramatic U-turn against His Government: Judicial Reform Legislation Must Be Halted, Says Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel Corporation, died at 94
Powell: Silicon Valley Bank was an 'outlier'
Bordeaux town hall set on fire in France pro democracy protest
Police violence in Paris
Paris: Some of the police are stepping down and showing solidarity with the protesters.
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
Orbán Viktor: the restructuring of the power relations in the whole of Europe is taking place
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
"Will Fly Wherever International Law Allows": US Warns Russia After Drone Incident
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
Drew Barrymore
China is calling out the US, UK, and Australia on their submarine pact, claiming they are going further down a dangerous road
A brief banking situation report
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
Fitness scam
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
Banking regulators close SVB, the largest bank failure since the financial crisis
Silicon Valley Bank: Struggles Threaten Tech Startup Ecosystem"
The unelected UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an immigrant himself, defends new controversial crackdown on illegal migration
Man’s penis amputated by mistake after he’s wrongly diagnosed with a tumour
In a major snub to Downing Street's Silicon Valley dreams, UK chip giant Arm has dealt a serious blow to the government's economic strategy by opting for a US listing
It's the question on everyone's lips: could a four-day workweek be the future of employment?
Is Gold the Ultimate Safe Haven Asset in Times of Uncertainty?
Spain officials quit over trains that were too wide for tunnels...
Hello. Here is our news digest from London.
Corruption and Influence Buying Uncovered in International Mainstream Media: Investigation Reveals Growing Disinformation Mercenaries
European MP Clare Daly condemns US attack on Nord Stream
Former U.S. President Carter will spend his remaining time at home and receive hospice care instead of medication
Tucker Carlson called Trump a 'demonic force'
Kamala Harris: "The United States has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity."
US Joins 15 NATO Nations in Largest Space Data Collection Initiative in History
×