PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) will have discussions with his legal team on the next steps to take in response to the allegations that the party received funding from gaming companies to finance its general election campaign during last year’s 15th General Election (GE15).
According to coalition chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the fact that Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said stated that the claim could not be verified is evident that the allegation was “defamatory” and “a lie”.
The Pagoh MP told reporters at the sessions court today (May 26) that PN will consider taking legal action against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the remarks.
“We will first demand an apology as this is a serious accusation and slander,” the former prime minister said.
Malaysiakini reported in December 2022 that Anwar had implied that PN’s election campaign funding came partly from gaming companies, notably those allowed to provide additional “special draws” in the weekly number’s lottery.
Muhyiddin added that his party will next wait for Anwar’s response before deciding on the next action.
Azalina stated in a written parliamentary reply yesterday (May 25) that the allegation that PN received funds from gaming companies to fund its election campaign could not be confirmed given that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had carried out a thorough investigation and found the information to be “very general and no parties were able to confirm it”.
As a result, the Pengerang MP said no investigation papers on the matter were opened. – May 26, 2023
