Malaysia

Malaysia: Former PM Muhyiddin Yassin Charged With Corruption

MAR 9 2023·Updated MAR 10 2023

Story

Image credit: Associated Press

The Facts

On Friday, former Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin was charged with alleged corruption and money laundering related to government stimulus projects awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Washington Post
Muhyiddin, who was in office for 17 months from 2020 to 2021, was charged with four cases of abuse of power to obtain bribes for his party Bersatu and two of money laundering. However, he rejected the accusations as politically motivated.
The Straits Times
Muhyiddin was arrested on Thursday by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), after being questioned over allegations that building contractors had deposited money into Bersatu's accounts in exchange for contracts during the pandemic.
Al Jazeera
The anti-graft agency is currently investigating allegations that local contractors chosen for the Jana Wibawa stimulus program allegedly transferred over $67M to the party. Several bank accounts belonging to Bersatu have been frozen by the MACC.
CNA
Charges against Muhyiddin come three months after he lost a tightly contested election to Anwar Ibrahim, who became the fourth Malaysian premier since 2018. They also come in the run-up to regional elections in six Malaysian states.
Reuters
He will be Malaysia's second leader to be indicted after leaving office — Najib Razak began a 12-year term in jail in August, after he was found guilty of corruption in a case related to a multibillion-dollar scandal at the 1MDB fund.
Al Jazeera

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The MACC has never been an independent body, as it operates under the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the government. However, the premiership of Anwar has weaponized it against the opposition to an extent not seen since the infamous 1987 Operation Lalang, with the clear intent to influence the outcome of upcoming regional elections.

Malaysia Today

Narrative B

It is deplorable that some people are claiming that Malaysia's anti-graft agency is politically motivated — the main responsibility of the MACC is, precisely, to probe corruption allegations. Prime Minister Anwar has nothing to do with the ongoing investigations, which draw on documents from the Ministry of Finance.