What else did Anwar sign without understanding, Muhyiddin says in Felda debt row

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin says he has instructed his lawyers to proceed with the suit against Anwar Ibrahim, adding that he had been vindicated by the prime minister's citation of a document related to the issuance of sukuk linked to a Cabinet decision in 2020 to write off the debts of Felda settlers.

He said the document signed by Anwar did not prove the claim that it was the latter who had approved the waiver of the debts.

"I have also explained many times before that the document Anwar signed was about sukuk and not about writing off Felda settlers' debts. The disclosure of the document proved that I was telling the truth. The one who lied and slandered me was Anwar," the former prime minister said.

On July 18, Muhyiddin through his lawyers gave Anwar 24 hours to retract claims that he had not fulfilled his promise to waive the settlers' debts.

Today, Anwar revealed documents which he said were proof that he had approved the debt waiver plan.

This was immediately disputed by Marzuki Mohamad, a former aide to Muhyiddin.

"I already knew it at first glance. The document is not a waiver agreement for Felda settlers' debts but an agreement on government-guaranteed sukuk issued in stages," Marzuki said.

Muhyiddin said Anwar's reference to the sukuk document as proof showed that he did not understand what he had signed.

"This is dangerous. I don't know what other documents or agreements he has signed in his capacity as prime minister and finance minister without understanding or knowing about their contents.

"Clearly, Anwar is not qualified (incompetent) to remain as prime minister. The longer Malaysia is governed the Madanon government of Anwar Ibrahim, the greater the harm to the people," said Muhyiddin, using a term mocking Anwar's Madani slogan.

Three months after taking office in 2020, Muhyiddin initiated a plan to write off the debts of Felda settlers. The plan was approved by the Cabinet in October 2020, agreeing among others to the issuance of a RM9.9 billion sukuk with a government guarantee to finance Felda's restructuring plans.

In February this year, Putrajaya said it was unable to continue Muhyiddin's plan to waive the settlers' loans, citing Felda's cash flow constraints.

Earlier this month, Anwar claimed Muhyiddin had never implemented the plan to write off the settlers' loans and that it was he, as finance minister, who signed an allocation for RM8.3 billion in June.

He repeated the remarks on July 8, saying Muhyiddin was too busy "finding contracts for children".