TASEK Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan has offered to step down as Bersatu’s information chief following his corruption charges.

Wan Saiful said he has informed the party president Muhyiddin Yassin of his decision. 

“I have asked the party president and Supreme Council to replace me with someone suitable as the information chief.

“I have conveyed my decision to the president and secretary-general, but I will let the party make the final decision,” he told reporters at Parliament today. 

The 48-year-old said he will be meeting Muhyiddin later today to discuss his next step.

Yesterday, Wan Saiful claimed trial to the charge of accepting almost RM7 million in kickbacks in connection with the Jana Wibawa aid programme. 

The Tasek Gelugor MP was also charged with soliciting for RM232 million in bribes in relation to the same programme to help highly placed Bumiputera contractors affected by the pandemic.

 The two charges were framed under Section 16(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. The offences are punishable by up to 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Wan Saiful pleaded not guilty to the charges read out to him in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court before Justice Azura Alwi.

He said he was looking forward to proving his innocence in court. – February 22, 2023.