Muhyiddin: I didn’t rape, sodomise or break any laws

(Malay Mail Online) – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today questioned his treatment in Umno following his removal as deputy prime minister, saying he was being sidelined despite having committed no offence.

During a forum organised in Johor Baru by Malay daily Sinar Harian, Muhyiddin said he was ostracised by the party even though he remained the second most senior leader in Umno after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“I didn’t rape, I didn’t commit sodomy, I didn’t break any laws … why was I victimised when I only spoke out for Umno members,” he said in the forum that was broadcast live online.

According to Muhyiddin, it was the president’s prerogative whether to accept his criticism and that it was okay to admit when one has made a mistake.

The Umno deputy president said reducing his role in the party was disrespectful of Umno members who elected him to the position as well as his contributions to the party.

He earlier said that he did not wish any ill on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), but was only expressing his concern over how the firm’s operations appeared to be funded largely through loans as the government only provided it with RM1 million in capital.

“I never wished for 1MDB to collapse, because if 1MDB falls then the government falls with it; I only expressed concern about 1MDB’s issues,” he explained.

Muhyiddin was removed as deputy prime minister during a Cabinet reshuffle in July owing to his open criticism of Putrajaya over its handling of 1MDB and its reported RM42 billion in debt.

Today, he repeated that he did not know the intricacies of 1MDB despite attending Cabinet meetings on the firm, and only understood the matter after he read further into it.

Muhyiddin also asserted that 1MDB’s chief executive Arul Kanda Kandasamy was not able to provide any insight into the firm and its finances when the latter was summoned to explain the matters to the Cabinet.

“I told the Cabinet to summon Arul Kanda, ‘come’, but he came empty handed and he gave no figures.

“Arul Kanda came as though without preparation, when 1MDB involves billions of ringgit,” Muhyiddin added.

Aside from Muhyiddin, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was also dropped as rural and regional development minister over public dissent on 1MDB in the same reshuffle.

In June, Putrajaya announced a six-month plan to rationalise 1MDB’s reported RM42 billion in debt and this month said it was on track for completion by the end of the year.