Najib disputes Muhyiddin's claim cancer prevented him from taking bribes

Najib disputes Muhyiddin's claim cancer prevented him from taking bribes


Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has raised doubt over Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin's claim that he could not have taken RM1.3 million in bribes in 2018 as alleged in court yesterday.

"Really?" Najib asked in a Facebook post this morning.

Muhyiddin, in his denial yesterday, said he had never received monies from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB), and that he was incapable of taking the alleged bribes as he was undergoing cancer treatment at the time.

However, Najib in a Facebook posting, indicated that Muhyiddin would have actually been out of the hospital at the time the bribes were made.

According to UKSB administrative manager David Tan's testimony in court yesterday, the RM1.3 million was transferred to Muhyiddin in cash in three transactions on June 4, July 4, and Aug 23, 2018.

For the first payment of RM300,000 on June 4, 2018, Najib pointed out that Muhyiddin was up and about and had a visit to Bukit Aman that day - which was reported by the news.

For the second payment of RM500,000 on July 4, 2018, the Pekan MP said the Bersatu president had not yet undergone surgery at the time.

He cited a news report that announced Muhyiddin had successfully undergone surgery on July 12, 2018.

He then cited another news report of Muhyiddin being discharged from hospital and being sworn in as Pagoh MP on Aug 7 and Aug 14 that year respectively.

Muhyiddin was then alleged to have received another RM500,000 on Aug 23, 2018, Najib said.

The details of the payouts were part of Tan's testimony during the corruption trial of former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi involving the Foreign Visa System (VLN).

Tan had identified Muhyiddin as the ‘TSM’ jotted down in UKSB's ledgers.

He also acknowledged in court that after Muhyiddin took over as home minister, the VLN project fell under his purview.

Zahid is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM43 million) from UKSB over four years from 2014 to 2018 as the then home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of one-stop centre service in China and the VLN, as well as to maintain the contract agreement to supply the VLN integrated system for the same company by the Home Ministry.

Meanwhile, Umno senator Mohamad Ali Mohamad lodged a police report in Malacca last night against Muhyiddin over the RM1.3 million bribe allegations.

In a Facebook post, he called on police to also investigate whether Muhyiddin had lied about his whereabouts when the alleged bribes were given.

Ali, who is also the Malacca Umno deputy chief, also called on police to investigate if the charges against Zahid were politically motivated, and why UKSB was not charged for giving out the bribes.