KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — More than a hundred people marched under the sun in solidarity with Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is expected to be charged with graft at the Sessions Court here today.
Clad in white T-shirts printed with an image of the former prime minister, clusters of Muhyiddin supporters were spotted gathering approximately one kilometre away, before merging at the Federal Territory Mosque and continuing towards the main gate of the Kuala Lumpur court complex.
Banners were held aloft proclaiming “We’re with Abah”, in reference to Muhyiddin’s nickname that was widely used when he was prime minister.
At 8.40am, Muhyiddin, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president, arrived at the court complex in his black Toyota Alphard.
He rolled down the window of his vehicle and waved to his fellow PN leaders and supporters before entering the compound.
Chants of “Long live, Abah!” and “Hancur PH”, in reference to Pakatan Harapan (PH), could be heard emanating from the group wearing matching red headbands.
The PN leaders spotted outside court were Bersatu secretary-general and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Gerakan president Dominic Lau.
Prior to Muhyiddin’s arrival, Malay Mail also sighted Putrajaya MP Datuk Radzi Jidin, and Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah who rolled down the window and greeted media personnel and Bersatu supporters.
“Please pray for Abah!” he said as he posed with a banner briefly before entering the court complex.
Meanwhile, a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle parked just outside the court’s public parking lot served as a stage for the Malay-nationalist party’s youth leaders who took turns leading chants against their political rivals and giving speeches to spur on their supporters.
Coming all the way from Shah Alam, 50-year-old Nina Yusof said that she woke up as early as 6am this morning to prepare breakfast for her family before rushing to the court complex to demonstrate her support for Muhyiddin.
“I think the government is being unfair towards Tan Sri (Muhyiddin) with all the charges that he’s facing right now. I believe that he is innocent, and this is just another selective prosecution by the government,” she said, while holding a banner.
Two youths from Larut in Perak, 22-year-old Muhammad Aiman Sabki and 20-year-old Muhammad Ikmal Muhammad Zilal Fazli also said that they did not want to miss the chance to show solidarity for Muhyiddin today.
“I left by bus, together with 50 others, around midnight and arrived at around 6am this morning to come here and pray together for our leaders who is currently being unfairly persecuted by the government,” he said, as Muhammad Ikmal interjected and animatedly shouted “Hidup Abah!” a few times.
Malay Mail also managed to speak to PN’s Kangar MP Zakri Hassan who was present at the gathering.
He said that the timing of the charges was uncanny as Bersatu is scheduled to have its annual grand meeting (AGM) this weekend.
“This is an evil tactic because Friday is supposed to be a holy day and Bersatu is scheduled to have its AGM this weekend. It’s almost apparent that they (the government) are trying to embarrass Tan Sri (Muhyiddin) and other PN leaders,” he told Malay Mail.
The crowd waited patiently for at least four hours for Muhyiddin to leave court, where the former prime minister pleaded not guilty to four counts of corruption and two counts of money laundering before posting RM2 million bail.
At 11.50am, Muhyiddin exited through the front gate after addressing the media and greeted his fellow leaders and supporters who chanted enthusiastically, “Hidup Abah!” before marching together to the Federal Territory Mosque to perform Friday prayers.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin was slapped with four counts of corruption and two counts of money laundering making him the second former prime minister accused for soliciting bribes and embezzling public funds.
For the first four counts, Muhyiddin was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act for using his office or position to get gratification from several entities amounting to over RM230 million.
If convicted, Muhyiddin faces an imprisonment term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification received under the said offence, where such gratification is capable of being valued or is of a pecuniary nature, or RM10,000, whichever is the higher.
The remaining two charges of money laundering were due to Muhyiddin being alleged to have deposited up to RM195 million in proceeds believed to be bribes in a CIMB account belonging to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia on two separate occasions between February and June 2021 and February and July 2022.
The charges were filed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
