AN Opposition MP has described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s “vengeful” attitude in relation to the “selective prosecution” of several Bersatu leaders as being worse than when former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was in power.
Pendang MP Datuk Awang Hashim was referring to Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan who was today charged with soliciting and accepting RM6.9 mil in bribes in relation to a Jana Wibawa project.
“As the Opposition, he can threaten us with anything…we have faced worse tribulations and slander,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
“[But] if [the crackdown] is just the beginning, then he is the worst prime minister in Malaysia. In fact, Dr Mahathir, who had been called a tyrant, is not as bad. The revengeful nature of the prime minister is indeed very strong.”
When quizzed on whether he believed that the charges against Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders were politically motivated, Awang said he refused to consider it as such but acknowledged that this gambit could have a colossal impact on Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN).
Awang claimed that the crackdown is part of Anwar’s “desperate strategy” as he was “willing to use threats to gain votes” ahead of the six state elections that are slated to be held this year.
“This is necessary [move] to weaken PN. For me, this is a signal to other leaders that even if you do not have a post, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) can be ordered to [go after you],” he stated.
“I don’t want to say that it’s politics or any other issues but I feel that we are facing the state polls and this has a great impact on the PH-BN government.
“For me, it was an ‘illegal number’ that made Anwar prime minister. This is an unexpected gambit that had made him prime minister so he has to gain support from voters during the state polls.”
Wan Saiful, who is the current Tasek Gelugor MP, claimed trial to the two charges, brought against him at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court a day after his arrest by the MACC.
He was alleged to have solicited a bribe from one Lian Tan Chuan as an inducement to help a company, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, secure the “Central Spine Road: Sertik To East Coast Expressway Interchange” project worth RM232 mil from the Malaysian government.
He was also charged with receiving RM6.9 mil which was transferred from a Maybank Islamic account owned by Nepturis to a CIMB Bank account owned by his company, WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd, as a reward for helping the company obtain a letter of acceptance for the project.
The former chairman of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation pleaded not guilty to both charges before judge Azura Alwi.
Both charges pertaining to alleged corruption involving the government’s Jana Wibawa scheme were brought under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009. – Feb 21, 2023
Main pic credit: HarakahDaily
