PERIKATAN Nasional chairman and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should step down from both positions after being charged with sedition in Kelantan today, said UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

Citing integrity concerns, Puad said this is especially given the previous charges the former premier is facing in the Jana Wibawa case.

“There’s no need to use the excuse that he has not been convicted yet. This is about integrity. He was charged with corruption over the Jana Wibawa issue. Today, he has been charged over the 3R issue,” Puad remarked in a statement on Facebook.

“Furthermore, there is also the case of his son-in-law (businessman Datuk Muhammad Adlan Berhan, whom the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is still working to locate in connection to a corruption case), alongside the fact that Bersatu was defeated in Nenggiri.”

According to Puad, Muhyiddin should follow the example of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who stepped down as Barisan Nasional chairman and UMNO president following the coalition’s defeat in the 14th general election in 2018.

“At that time, (Najib) hadn’t even been charged yet,” he added.

Puad went on to question Muhyiddin’s decision to remain in both posts despite the “heavy baggage” he carries as well as Bersatu’s significant defeat to BN in the recent Nenggiri by-election.

Recall that on Feb 28, the Court of Appeal allowed the prosecution to reinstate Muhyiddin’s four power abuse charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme and ordered the case to be remitted to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

Muhyiddin was previously discharged and acquitted (DNA) by High Court judge Justice Muhammad Jamil Hussin who found that the four charges against the Pagoh MP were defective, unsubstantiated, and vague.

Muhyiddin, 76, was charged with using his position as the then prime minister and Bersatu president to obtain bribes amounting to RM232.5 mil from three companies - Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd - and also from one Datuk Azman Yusoff, for the party.

Earlier today, the former prime minister was charged under the Sedition Act at the Gua Musang Sessions Court for allegedly raising sensitive issues related to 3R (race, religion, and royalty) during the Nenggiri state seat by-election campaign.

The charge was framed under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment for up to three years, or both, upon conviction. - Aug 27, 2024 

https://focusmalaysia.my/heavy-baggage-muhyiddin-should-resign-from-bersatu-pn-says-puad-zarkashi/