BERSATU’S preparation for the six state elections is proceeding smoothly even though the party’s accounts had been seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), a party leader said.

Its information chief Razali Idris admitted that the seizure of its account was a hiccup but said Bersatu will face the elections with help and support from the public, civil society groups and its ally PAS.

He told The Malaysian Insight the donations were not in the form of financial support but only in terms of goods and services needed for campaigning.

“It’s a charitable donation to us. They will buy us the necessary things needed for our campaign,” he said.

Razali also said PAS had promised to help with manpower.

He added that Bersatu candidates will have to find their own funds for their campaigns.

“Like PAS, our candidates will also have to find their own funds and not expect 100% funding from the party.”

To further save on costs, Razali said the party has to recycle old items such as flags that are still in good condition.

“We take good care of these (in storage),” he said.

“We’re unlike Umno who have the habit of throwing things away. Even though we don’t have the bullets to fight with, figuratively speaking, we will still fight democratically.”

The MACC seized two Bersatu bank accounts in April this year after freezing them in January as part of legal actions against the party’s president Muhyiddin Yassin.

The seizure was made in accordance with section 50 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Muhyiddin faces four charges of using his position to obtain a bribe of RM232.5 million from three companies for Bersatu and two charges of money-laundering involving RM195 million.

Muhyiddin was also accused of receiving illegal proceeds of RM195 million.

The eighth prime minister pleaded not guilty to all charges and had described the legal actions against him as selective prosecution.

Razali said the hurdles faced by Bersatu at the moment have never weakened the spirit of its members.

He said they have in fact become stronger.

Increased non-Malay support

Razali also claimed that the support of non-Malays for Perikatan Nasional (PN) has increased.

The support had become more evident in recent months, gauging from attendance at PN political gatherings, he said.

“When we held a gathering in Negri Sembilan recently, we found that there were Chinese and Indians who were listening attentively and applauded when they approved of something.

“That’s our reading that PN has started to get the support of non-Malay voters,” he said.

Razali said based on that reading, PN was confident that it would be able to garner 20% of the non-Malay votes in Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

He said it also proved that PN was not a racist pact and is friendly towards non-Malays.

The perception that PN was racist was created by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan, he added.

On the controversial statement uttered by DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng over the actions of PAS in managing a non-Islamic houses of worship in Kedah, Razali reminded the people in the six states that in PAS-ruled Kelantan, it has the largest statue in the country, which for decades was never disturbed.

He said it was now marked for preservation.

“The same could be said of Kedah which has the biggest Hindu temple in the country and there are no complaints against it,” said Razali.

He said Bersatu has non-Muslim members and PAS too has a similar wing.

“How can we still be accused of being racists? The racists are Umno and DAP, who touch on the rights of the Malays.

“Of course we will raise Malay issues because that’s what our party is fighting for, but we don’t deny the rights of non-Malays,” he said.

Six states – Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu – will go to the polls on August 12. – July 17, 2023.