MACC officers pressured Syed Saddiq to support Muhyiddin, parents tell court

(MMO) – The parents of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said their son was pressured by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during investigations into the RM250,000 missing from his home in 2020.

Syed Abdul Rahman Abdullah Alsagoff, 69, and Sharifah Mahani Syed Abdul Aziz, 62, told the High Court today that the MACC officers had questioned them from morning to night on several occasions and had also suggested to them to tell Syed Saddiq to support the government of the day so they would not be harassed.

Abdul Rahman said his son had strong principles and was not keen to support Muhyiddin and he had an inkling that the powers in government at the time would make an effort to force his hand.

Gobind: Was Syed Saddiq forced to support Muhyiddin and did you feel if he didn’t the family members would be threatened?

Syed Abdul Rahman: Yes. Muhyiddin had a thin majority and I felt they would betray my son as he has strong principles and high integrity and I also advised him not to (support Muhyiddin’s government). I told him to be honest till the end and don’t give in.

This was corroborated by his wife Sharifah during the cross-examination.

Gobind: When you were being questioned at MACC, were you told anything regarding to the government?

Sharifah: I can’t forget one thing they said that made me sad. They said wouldn’t it be better if I told my son to support the government of the day instead, so my husband and my family won’t be harassed by them anymore. This part I cannot forget.

Gobind: What did you think they meant by that?

Sharifah: I feel my son was a victim of politics because he didn’t give in to their demands. Anytime something important like a vote or matters that needed MPs’ support he would warn us to be careful as the authorities would likely target us.

Gobind: So in this case Syed Saddiq did tell you that he is being pressured to support Muhyiddin?

Sharifah: Yes, that’s true.

Syed Saddiq is standing trial for criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM1 million and misappropriation of RM120,000 belonging to the youth wing of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), the Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda or Armada.

During trial today both parents said they had been to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya several times from 9.30 am in the morning all the way till 8.30pm at night.

Sharifah said the officers had asked her about her finances as far back as 2016 nit-picking every detail she spent in those years. She said they used scare tactics against her as being a teacher she had supplemented her meagre income with tuition classes.

She said the officers had caused her so much stress that her cancer returned for the second time in July 2020.

“I was scared when they said things like I needed to declare taxes on the tuition fees. It was like trying to scare me into not getting my pension. This after serving for 38 years.

“Not only that they also drove to Johor Bharu to find my other kids and question them. They were just starting to enter the workforce and most of their possessions were from loans so that sort of thing was scary to see and it’s never happened before to us,” she added.

In this trial the former Youth and Sports Minister was alleged to have abetted Armada assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was entrusted with Armada’s fund amounting to RM1 million, in committing the CBT.

The offence was allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Berhad at Menara CIMB KL Sentral, Jalan Sentral 2, here on March 6, 2020.

The charge, framed under Section 406 of the Penal Code, provides imprisonment of up to 10 years with whipping and a fine if convicted.

On the second charge, Syed Saddiq was charged with misappropriation of RM120,000 belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise in Maybank Islamic Berhad for his own use, which resulted in Rafiq disposing of the money.

Syed Saddiq was charged with committing the offence at Malayan Banking Berhad, Jalan Pandan 3/6A, Taman Pandan Jaya here between April 8, 2018 and April 21, 2018.

The charge was framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code which provides imprisonment of between six months and five years, with whipping and liable to fine, if found guilty.

Prior to this, he was charged with two counts of engaging in money laundering activities, namely two transactions of RM50,000 from his Maybank Islamic Berhad account into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account, which is believed to be proceeds of illegal activities.

He was alleged to have committed the offence at a bank in Jalan Persisiran Perling, Taman Perling here on June 16 and June 19, 2018.

The charges were framed under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which is punishable under Section 4 (1) of the same Act, providing maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or proceeds of illegal activities.

The case is heard before Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid and continues tomorrow.