RM1bil palace bribe claim outrageous, says Muhyiddin

The Perikatan Nasional chairman says those behind the claim have committed a serious offence under the Sedition Act and Penal Code.

(FMT) – Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin today ridiculed an allegation that Perikatan Nasional (PN) had offered Istana Negara RM1 billion to help topple the unity government.

In a statement, the PN chairman described the claim as a slanderous accusation that was “outrageous and illogical”.

“I believe that those who made and spread this allegation have committed a serious offence under the Sedition Act and Penal Code.

“A police report has been made by Hamzah Zainudin as the opposition leader and PN secretary-general, so that the relevant people are investigated and punished,” he said.

It claimed funds were also set aside to bribe government MPs into retracting their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Speculation previously arose about the so-called “Dubai Move”, a reference to alleged discussions in the United Arab Emirates between opposition leaders and certain government representatives to topple the Anwar administration.

The alleged meeting, which Anwar and other government leaders played down, supposedly aimed to divide tasks among “agents” to identify MPs who would defect to the opposition.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin reiterated that the Federal Constitution provides for the formation of a new government without a general election being held.

“This provision in the constitution must be adhered to in determining any formation of change in government,” he said.

Article 43(4) of the Federal Constitution states that “the prime minister shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet” if they do not have the support of the majority of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, unless the King dissolves Parliament at their request to make way for a snap election.