MAS Ermieyati Samsudin has dismissed claims made under oath by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that she had defected from Umno after the 14th general election to save herself from Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigations into alleged abuse of election funds. 

The Masjid Tanah MP said in a statement that the Umno chief’s claims were baseless and not true, and that she was mulling legal action. 

“Zahid’s allegations are not true. The funds were distributed nationwide as required by the party,” the former Puteri Umno leader said in a statement last night. 

She said she would have to study Zahid’s accusation in detail before deciding on her next move. 

“His accusation was in the form of a sworn statement from the witness stand in court, so I need more details before deciding whether to take further action,” said the deputy de facto law minister from Bersatu. 

On Tuesday, Zahid told the High Court that three MPs from Umno had quit the party and joined Bersatu after GE14 to save themselves from being investigated by MACC. 

“The first to quit and join the other party was the Masjid Tanah MP, who is now deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. I was made to understand that she was entrusted with the responsibility to manage the funds for the general election, but the funds were not used for Puteri Umno operations. 

“Instead, the funds were transferred to another account for personal purposes. Umno and Puteri’s top leadership knew about this but when it was announced that an investigation would be carried out, the best way to save herself was to join Bersatu, which at that time was part of the Pakatan Harapan government,” he had said. 

Zahid also claimed Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed – also a minister in the current cabinet – had misappropriated provisions channelled to Kelantan Umno. 

However, the Jeli MP denied the claims in a statement yesterday. 

“All party funds are managed according to party guidelines, including funds for elections. They were managed by the committee concerned at the liaison body level,” he said. 

Mustapa reiterated he had never been pressured to join Bersatu nor did he misappropriate any funds belonging to Kelantan Umno. 

“I’m ready to cooperate with the authorities,” he added.

Zahid was testifying in his defence over 47 charges, namely 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption, and 27 for money-laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi. 

The trial is ongoing. – June 30, 2022.