China News Agency, Kuala Lumpur, February 22 (Chen Yue Weiyuan) The leadership of the Bumiputra Bersatu Party, one of the main opposition parties in Malaysia, is facing multiple legal charges. Saiful, the director of its propaganda department, was the first to be charged with bribery by the prosecution on the 21st.
Prosecutors accused Saiful, now a member of Congress, of allegedly extorting bribes of about 7 million ringgit (about 4.43 ringgit per U.S. dollar) in a project tender in 2022.
Saiful has pleaded not guilty and the court has ruled that he be released on bail pending trial.
The Kuala Lumpur District Court is expected to start hearing the case in March.
A local head of the Indigenous Solidarity Party was also prosecuted by the prosecution for accepting bribes.
Muhyiddin, the former prime minister and leader of the Indigenous Unity Party, and senior officials of the party appeared in court on the 21st to support Saiful.
But Muhyiddin, who is the leader of the opposition coalition, the National Alliance, may face legal charges himself.
The Indigenous United Nations Party has been accused of misappropriating supporting funds for the economic revitalization of the new crown epidemic and illegally collecting 300 million ringgit in political donations during its administration.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has summoned Muhyiddin and senior officials of the Bersatu Party to assist in the investigation.
The bank accounts of the Indigenous Unity Party have also been frozen.
Muhyiddin has repeatedly denied the allegations against the party and himself.
He said on the 21st that local elections in six states in Malaysia are coming, and these charges are "selective prosecutions" with political purposes before the election.
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