FORMER prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has maintained his innocence, adding that the seven charges which he will face tomorrow was an order from the most powerful party in the government to smear him and  destroy his party, Bersatu, and the Perikatan Nasional coalition.

“Whatever explanation I have given, I will still be prosecuted (tomorrow).

“This selective prosecution is an intentional political act done by Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, solely to paralyse and destroy Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional,” Muhyiddin said in a statement today.

He claimed that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim knows that PN has the support of the people, especially the Malays and Bumiputeras, and will win big in the coming state elections.

“I believe that those who conspire against me will be punished by the people in the state elections,” he said.

“I affirm that I am innocent and will answer all charges in court.”

Muhyiddin said MACC had questioned him on two issues – the Jana Wibawa programme and the appeal for tax cancellation by the AlBukhary Foundation.

On the Jana Wibawa programme, he said he never gave instructions or influenced the decision made by the Finance Ministry.

“I have also never met contractors who got projects and never received money from them,” he said.

“MACC can’t find any evidence that I have received money. So how can I be accused of accepting bribes and abuse of power?”

MACC is currently investigating allegations that chosen contractors deposited RM300 million in PN lynchpin party Bersatu’s account before the last general election.

Last month, the anti-graft agency froze several bank accounts held by Bersatu as part of its investigation into the party. Bersatu has filed an application for a judicial review to challenge that decision.

“It is regrettable that the funds in Bersatu’s account, which were political donations, are considered bribes,” Muhyiddin said.

As for the AlBukhary Foundation, he said it was granted tax exemption by the previous Barisan Nasional government.

“After GE14 (14th general election), the PH government was formed. Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng cancelled the tax exemption,” he said.

“When I became prime minister, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary appealed against the cancellation of the tax exemption.

“I minuted the document that if it was in order, I won’t object.

“This appeal was then considered by the Finance Ministry and IRB (Inland Revenue Board), and subsequently approved.

“Because of my minutes, I’m now accused of abuse of power.”

He said if there was any contribution from Syed Mokhtar, then it was for political reasons and made directly to Bersatu’s account.

“Not into my account. Not a single sen of the donation was given to me for my use,” he said.

Muhyiddin was at the MACC headquarters yesterday for nine hours where he had his statement recorded.

He was released on bail at 8pm and has been ordered to present himself in court tomorrow. – March 9, 2023.