FORMER de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has taken a swipe at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for only forfeiting over RM169 mil in cash belonging to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob but unwilling to charge Malaysia’s ninth premier in court with any criminal offence.
On the contrary, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin faces four charges under the MACC Act 2009 and two under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA) involving a total of RM200 mil, including RM195 mil allegedly transferred into the party’s account held with CIMB Islamic Bank.
Additionally, Muhyiddin, 78, was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with abusing his power as prime minister in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme by seeking to obtain RM232 mil for Bersatu in 2021.
“MACC has seized RM169 mil in cash, RM1.5 mil in gold and frozen 43 bank accounts, all of which are linked to Ismail Sabri’s former senior private secretary and possibly himself but no charges were made,” the opposition-slant UMNO member penned on X.
Muhyiddin: RM232 million allegedly flowed into Bersatu accounts. He was charged under abuse of power and AMLA
Ismail Sabri: MACC seized RM169 million in cash, RM1.5 million in gold, and frozen 43 bank accounts; all linked to his former senior private secretary and possibly…
— Zaid Ibrahim (@zaidibrahim) July 8, 2025
“It defies logic that the one with physical money recovered isn’t charged while the other is.”
Recall that on Monday (July 7), the anti-graft agency had filed an application to forfeit over RM169 mil in cash belonging to Ismail Sabri
The application was filed at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Monday (July 7) by the deputy public prosecutor who named Ismail Sabri’s former political secretary Datuk Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus and the Bera MP as first and second respondents.
“Ismail Sabri not critical of Madani gov’t’
Additionally, the former premier with the shortest stint of 14 months were also subject to a series of questioning between March and June 25 when MACC head honcho Tan Sri Azam Baki revealed that the probe into the corruption and money laundering allegations linked to the former has been completed.
Following this, Azam had contended that the investigation papers had been submitted to the deputy public prosecutor’s office for further action.
On this note, Zaid argued that “MACC has the power to go for civil forfeiture or to go for a criminal conviction” but that power has to be exercised properly and with good reason.
“MACC’s excuse of no criminal element found (in Ismail Sabri’s case) is vague and unconvincing. In fact, the MACC chief (commissioner Tan Sti Azam Bali) claimed there were only ‘governance issues’ in Ismail Sabri’s case. Really?” asked the former defence counsel of now incarcerated Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“So when MACC want to charge someone, they say possible corruption and abuse of power but if not, its governance issue.
“But money doesn’t appear magically in bags and safes. If MACC believes the money is linked to corruption, then someone committed a crime. If not Ismail Sabri, then who? And why hasn’t anyone been charged?”
In essence, Zaid described the entire episode as rooted in political alignment of Muhyiddin and Ismail Sabri.
It smells of political convenience. Ismail Sabri, though no longer in power, is supportive of Madani and has not criticised PMX Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In fact, he has maintained silence on Madani policies. Muhyiddin is a direct political opponent and leads the opposition bloc. This creates the perception that if you’re friendly with the regime, you get a civil forfeiture. If you’re not, you get charged in court.
The rule of law demands equal treatment. Justice cannot be “pick and choose.” If the authorities believe Muhyiddin’s conduct merited criminal charges, they must apply the same threshold to Ismail Sabri – or explain clearly why not.
This is not just a legal inconsistency. It’s a moral failure of the justice system under the Madani administration. – July 10, 2025
