BN sends letter of demand to Muhyiddin, Azmin over 'mastermind' claim

Barisan Nasional (BN) today sent a letter of demand to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and his Supreme Council member Mohamed Azmin Ali over a claim that recent charges against his party leaders were masterminded by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. 

In a statement, BN hit out at Muhyiddin's remarks, made on Feb 21 following the arrest of Bersatu's Wan Saiful Wan Jan, describing them as extreme and reckless slander. 

"They were made intentionally, in order to cover up the damage ongoing in Perikatan Nasional (PN) itself," it added. 

"Through this series of claims, it is clear that both of these main figures in PN have created all manner of excuses to hide the problems of corruption and bribery existing within the coalition.

"The act of pointing fingers appears to be their usual move to cover up their weaknesses and make themselves the victims of political prosecution even as the people see for themselves that the accused is from within their party leadership." 

Wan Saiful, who was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on Deb 20, was charged in court the next day with bribery amounting to RM6.9 million related to a JanaWibawa project. 

He later resigned as Bersatu information chief pending the outcome of his case. 

Muhyiddin said the charges against Wan Saiful had been masterminded by Zahid in order to weaken PN ahead of the elections to be held in six states this year. 

He said Zahid had previously issued statements that appeared to be attempts to paint Bersatu as a faction of the so-called court cluster. 

"After this, there will be a new court cluster," the PN chairman added. 

"This is something already attempted from early on. So what has happened, I think was already planned ahead of time."

BN said both Muhyiddin and Azmin had been told to retract their statements, issue a public apology, and pay compensation for what it described as defamation. 

It also denied that Zahid had misused his position to prosecute leaders from PN. 

"The deputy prime minister's focus is on managing national affairs, especially improving the welfare and economic life of the rural communities."