Bersatu taking further legal action against MACC, banks over frozen accounts

SHAH ALAM: Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin says the party is considering further legal action against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and banks for freezing the party’s accounts for over a year.

The former prime minister contended that freezing Bersatu’s accounts for over 12 months without charging the party in court constitutes a legal violation and contravenes the Federal Constitution.

“This action is oppressive and unjust,” said Muhyiddin at a press conference following Bersatu’s general assembly here.

“Bersatu is a sizeable political organisation. How are we to survive if the government acts this way?”

Two Bersatu accounts were frozen on Jan 12 and Jan 13, 2023, and later reported to have been seized by MACC on April 11, 2023, as part of the agency’s investigation into the party.

The probe is linked to the alleged misappropriation of funds for Covid-19 stimulus packages amounting to RM92.5 billion by the former Perikatan Nasional-led government.

Bersatu later filed an application in the High Court to challenge the MACC over the freezing of its accounts, accusing it of abusing its powers to conduct “selective prosecution” against PN.

Muhyiddin said the party’s lawyers recently attended a court hearing during which the judge postponed making a ruling on Bersatu’s bid to challenge MACC’s decision to freeze its funds.

The next hearing is scheduled for Jan 23, 2025.