PUTRAJAYA is using the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as a political tool to destroy Perikatan Nasional (PN), Hamzah Zainudin said after the anti-graft body recently froze two of Bersatu’s bank accounts. 

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah said the party will continue to cooperate with the MACC in its investigation to put an end to the “malicious” allegations against the party. 

It was reported today that MACC had frozen two Bersatu bank accounts over the alleged misappropriation of RM92.5 billion by the Muhyiddin Yassin-led government from 2020 to 2022. 

“We can accept the excuse that this measure taken by MACC is part of its investigation into the allegation made against Bersatu. 

“Bersatu leaders and officers who have been asked to give their statements to MACC have also been told to fully cooperate,” Hamzah said in a statement today. 

Hamzah alleged that the move to freeze the party’s accounts was aimed at distracting the people from the Anwar Ibrahim-led government’s “weakness, failure and practice of nepotism”.

MACC chief Azam Baki told The Malaysian Insight the two accounts belonging to Bersatu have been frozen to facilitate investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Azam, however, declined to reveal further details.

On January 6, MACC remanded a chief executive officer of a company that was the middleman in the distribution of government projects under the economic stimulus package from 2020 to 2022.

The MACC had previously issued a statement regarding the investigation, which focused on the RM92.5 billion in government funds under the economic stimulus and recovery programme by the PN government.

Source told The Malaysian Insight that MACC has opened several investigation papers on at least five people believed to be masterminds or middlemen for several companies to obtain projects worth between RM50 million and RM500 million through direct negotiation. 

On December 15, MACC raided eight government agencies and nine companies as part of its investigation into the alleged misappropriation of RM92.5 billion by the PN-led government. – February 1, 2023.