THE government is going all out to kill off Bersatu because it fears the party and Perikatan Nasional (PN) will do well in the state elections later this year, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said that this was seen in the manner the government had been targeting the party in recent months, including charging leaders with various crimes and freezing party accounts.

Muhyiddin, who is also PN chairman, said the cases against him were proof of the government’s agenda.

“We feel that the actions taken against us are to kill us off.

“That is why Bersatu’s accounts remain frozen, making it difficult for us to function. We need our funding for events and to be prepared for the state elections.

“Their plan is to kill and bury us,” he told a PN ceramah last night held in Kolej Universiti Islam Zulkifli Muhammad, Batu Caves.

He added that Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) felt threatened by PN’s success at the polls in November, when it won 74 parliamentary seats.

PH won 82 seats and formed a unity government with the support from BN, and Sabah and Sarawak parties.

Muhyiddin said that up to 70% of Malays have risen and had chosen PN as the coalition in which they placed their confidence, and this was also the trend the coalition is seeing for the coming state elections.

PN will defend Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan in the June polls, while trying to topple PH in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Penang.

“More than 60% of Malays are in support of the PN. Those in the government feel insecure by this major threat to their power,” he said.

“They also fear that PN will win all six states, so they will continue looking at ways to stop us,” he said, adding that more charges of corruption and money laundering may be coming their way as a result.

Borrowing to make bail

At Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Friday, Muhyiddin denied four counts of abuse of power in receiving gratification of RM232.5 million. He also denied two counts of laundering a total of RM195 million.

He is accused of using his position as the then-prime minister and Bersatu president to obtain RM232.5 million from three companies and an individual, between March 1, 2020, and August 20, 2021.

Muhyiddin is also accused of receiving RM120 million from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd between February 25, 2021, and July 8, 2022.

The judge granted the Pagoh MP a RM2 million bail. He later claimed he had to borrow the funds to pay his bail.

Muhyiddin is due to face an additional charge in Shah Alam tomorrow.

“Launching a fund or crowdfunding will not be sufficient even now, so I owe those who have loaned (me the money).

“It is fortunate, otherwise I would have to go to jail,” he said.

He added that the charges against him were based on his position as Bersatu president, and not in his personal capacity.

“God willing, I will be freed from these charges against me and those against the PN leadership.

“It is selective persecution aimed at me, the chairman of PN and the president of Bersatu.

“This is just a political ploy to destroy me, my family and our party.

“I will face this accusation and we will present the case in court, I only ask for one help, just a prayer,” he said. – March 12, 2023.