THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has taken note of allegations that Perikatan Nasional (PN) used money from gambling companies to help finance their campaign for the 15th General Election (GE15).
Law and Institutional Reforms Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has provided information about the anti-graft body’s investigation on the matter in a one-sentence parliamentary reply yesterday (March 28).
“MACC is in the process of studying relevant information to be developed as an investigation basis,” she said in a reply to PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim first alluded to the accusation in December noting that the federal government is looking into the matter at the time.
On Dec 6, 2022, PAS has demanded proof that PN received funds from gambling industries during GE15.
Following that, figures from PN component parties PAS and Bersatu had lashed out at the accusations, with the former’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan threatening legal action against Anwar if he fails to provide clear evidence over the “wild allegations”.
“The accusation is baseless and PAS demands that the prime minister provide clear evidence on the wild accusation. If he fails to do so, PN will consider taking legal action,” New Straits Times reported Takiyuddin as saying on Dec 6 last year.
The former energy and natural resources minister also claimed that the party regrets the PM’s slanderous accusations that implied PN’s election campaign had been funded by gaming companies.
Meanwhile, PAS party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang also stated that it makes no sense for gambling corporations to sponsor the PN’s election campaign because PAS is vehemently opposed to gambling.
Similarly, PN chairman and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had dismissed the allegations as slander, claiming that the coalition was being targeted for its popularity among Malay voters in GE15. — March 29, 2023
Main photo credit: NST
