“Step down as NRC chairman until your good name is cleared,” Puad tells Muhyiddin

BERSATU president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should resign from the National Recovery Council (MPN) until the authorities can clear his name, said UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

In a Facebook post, Puad said that the former prime minister’s reputation had been tarnished by allegations that he had received funds from visa processing company Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) when he was the home minister in 2018.

“This also affects the Government’s image as Muhyiddin is the chairperson of MPN. Therefore, it is better for Muhyiddin to resign as MPN chairperson until his name is cleared,” Puad noted.

Last Friday (June 17), UKSB’s former administrative manager David Tan Siong Sun testified that the company had given RM1.3 mil to Muhyiddin in cash payments on June 4, July 4 and Aug 23, 2018.

Tan is a witness in the trial against UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 mil (RM42 mil) from UKSB for government contracts.

Muhyiddin, along with other UMNO politicians who were named in the ledger, had denied the allegations.

The Pagoh MP also said that it was impossible for him to personally take the money as he was undergoing surgery for his cancer at a hospital overseas and that he had taken a leave of absence from official duties as home minister.

Muhyiddin went on medical leave from July 12, 2018 and was warded at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore where he underwent an operation to remove a tumour in his pancreas.

He returned to Malaysia on August 12, 2018 following a month-long medical leave.

Meanwhile, Puad said that Zahid cannot be the only person investigated, adding that the these were serious allegations made in court by a witness.

“Some were charged for allegedly receiving RM100,000 from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds. Therefore, Muhyiddin cannot be exempted (from investigation),” he said.

“If Muhyiddin has dignity, he must sue David Tan for tarnishing his good name.”