Muhyiddin: I knew from early on I never committed any wrongdoing

Saturday 11 May 2024

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that he had never committed any wrongdoing, and the criminal charges brought against him were politically motivated and an abuse of the court process.

Speaking outside the Duta Court complex here, after the four corruption charges totalling RM232.5 million against him were struck out by High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin, Muhyiddin said that he will work hard to reveal to the public what “certain parties” had done to persecute him.

“I want to say that we will work hard to tell the public what certain parties did to persecute me. Today, it was proven that their allegations weren’t true,” he said on Tuesday (Aug 15).

“From early on, I knew that these charges were politically motivated. I had actually never committed any wrongdoing, whether according to MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) laws or other laws, and this is evident with what the judge has decided, and I am thankful,” he said.

While the Perikatan Nasional chairman was speaking outside the court complex, his many supporters and political colleagues raised their hands in the air while chants of “referendum” echoed from the crowd.

His lawyer Datuk Seri Hisyam Teh Poh Taik said that the charges against him were “bad in law”, seriously defective, and must not see the light of day.

The lawyer said that it was the defence's argument that the offences were not known to law, and this was agreed to by the judge, adding that the prosecution had misread and misapplied the law.

“In the process, irreparable harm was done to Muhyiddin. It is our argument that the charges did not disclose particulars that were necessary for the defence team to proceed with an effective defence. The judge was appreciative of our argument. We are grateful for the fair and just decision,” Hisyam said.

While Jamil struck out the four abuse of power charges against Muhyiddin, he did not address the three money-laundering charges, as Muhyiddin’s defence team did not make any relevant application.

The three money-laundering charges are for allegedly receiving proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM200 million from Bukhary Equity, out of the RM232.5 million.

However, Hisyam explained that as a result of the collapse of the first four charges, which were the predicate offences, the other three charges will not stand.

“We will meet and discuss the steps to be taken as far as the three [money-laundering] charges are concerned,” Hisyam said.

Edited BySurin Murugiah

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