KOTA BARU: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is hoping that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will free the party's bank accounts, which were frozen in February.

Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu argued that recent statements have shown that Bersatu did not receive funds from gaming companies for its 15th General Election (GE15) campaign.

"We (Bersatu) hope that the bank accounts can be released soon. The party is a different entity from the president (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin), who has been charged in court," he told reporters after attending a gathering with Kelantan Bersatu's Srikandi here today.

He was referring to Muhyiddin's seven charges in court back in March for money laundering and corruption.

Bersatu in February claimed that its bank accounts had been frozen by MACC.

It was understood that it was done in relation to a probe into the alleged misappropriation of billions of ringgit meant for Covid-19 stimulus packages during Perikatan Nasional's administration of the country.

The graft busters had on Feb 1 confirmed that the accounts were frozen to enable the MACC to investigate funds believed to have been obtained from illegal proceeds.

The investigations were under the MACC Act 2009 and Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Ahmad Faizal was also referring to a statement by Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said's statement on a probe into the party.

Azalina, in a recent written reply in the Dewan Rakyat, had said that MACC cannot confirm claims that PN had used gambling proceeds in the last general election.

She said that the MACC had conducted a detailed probe into the matter. However, she added the MACC found that the information was "too general" and no parties were able to confirm the issue.

Muhyiddin had on Friday said PN is mulling legal action against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, over the latter's claim that PN's GE15 campaign was funded by gambling revenue.

Anwar today reiterated his stand that PN had received funding from gambling companies for its election campaign and said he had no issue if Muhyiddin Yassin decides to proceed with legal action.

"Please read the statement (I made last year) carefully before taking any action. However, if he decides to proceed (with legal action), go ahead.

"I don't make such statements without any basis," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/05/913993/bersatu-hopes-macc-will-free-its-frozen-bank-accounts