PPBM denies RM500mil commission given to party in Goldman Sachs case

(FMT) – A PPBM leader has refuted claims that RM500 million had been paid to his party through a high-profile lawyer.

The party’s information chief, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, said the claim was another attempt by the opposition to slander the party and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Previously, Kuang assemblyman Sallehudin Amiruddin’s office had lodged a police report urging the authorities to investigate the claim that millions had been paid to a political party through a high-profile lawyer.

In the report, it was claimed the money was a commission for helping Putrajaya reach a settlement with Goldman Sachs. The allegation had gone viral on social media last week.

“I know all of this did not happen. I strongly deny this slander. No agent was appointed. No commission was received. This is not the culture in PPBM,” said Wan Saiful in a statement today.

He said the claim followed allegations that the government had not been transparent in resolving the 1MDB issue and the settlement with Goldman Sachs for its involvement in the scandal.

Wan Saiful said the recent statement from Sallehudin and another statement by a DAP MP raised questions if the two parties’ backers were colluding on the issue.

“PPBM was formed to fight for integrity and a transparent administration.

“Our commitment is to ensure the 1MDB case is resolved urgently, and that all who are guilty are brought to justice and for the money that was stolen to be returned to benefit the people,” he said.

In July last year, finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said Goldman Sachs would pay US$2.5 billion (RM10.26 billion) in cash and guarantee the return of at least US$1.4 billion (RM5.75 billion) which had been seized by the US government as part of the misappropriated 1MDB funds.

The opposition had previously criticised the settlement, with former finance minister Lim Guan Eng saying the Pakatan Harapan government had claimed US$7.5 billion (RM30.8 billion) from Goldman Sachs.