The anti-graft agency in Malaysia, on Thursday, grilled the former Malaysian Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, over alleged corruption connected with awarding of government contracts while he was in office.
According to AP news, Muhyiddin was grilled on Thursday for the second time in weeks by the anti-graft agency.
While, the agency chief, Azam Baki, told newsmen that Muhyiddin will be charged to court on Friday, the details of the allegation were not given, however, he stated that a statement will be issued later in the day.
The publication also reported that a large crowd of supporters gathered outside the agency building Thursday, chanting “Fight! Fight!” and “Allahu Akbar (God is great)” as they accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government of political persecution.
It was gathered that the 75-year-old got out of his car and prayed with his supporters before he went into the building.
In a Facebook statement hours earlier, he denied rumours that he had been arrested on Wednesday while playing golf. He said he was summoned to the anti-graft agency but didn’t say why.
If Muhyiddin is charged, he will be the second former leader to be indicted after leaving office. Ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak was hit with multiple graft charges after he lost the 2018 general elections and began a 12-year jail term in August after losing a final appeal in the first of several graft cases.
Anwar, who took office in November, has denied the case against Muhyiddin is politically motivated, telling local media the investigation was independently carried out by the anti-graft agency.
According to an online Malaysian news portal, he said, “If you said all cases are politically motivated, then how are we going to arrest people for big corruption cases?”
Muhyiddin who was premier from March 2020-August 2021, was first questioned by the anti-graft agency in February and has denied any wrongdoing. Two senior leaders from his Bersatu party recently were charged with corruption connected with the projects. The anti-graft agency has also frozen the party’s accounts to facilitate investigations into suspected illegal proceeds.
According to the report, Muhyddin leads a strong Islamic-dominated opposition coalition and has accused Anwar’s government of trying to tarnish his party ahead of state elections.