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KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was summoned to appear before the country’s anti-corruption agency on Wednesday, following allegations of abuses in aid programs launched under his government.
In a Facebook post, Muhyiddin, who is prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, said he was summoned to the headquarters of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at 11am on Wednesday. He did not say why.
He also denied a news report that he was arrested on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last year ordered a review of government projects worth billions of dollars approved by Muhyiddin, including the COVID-19 relief programs, alleging that they did not follow proper procedures.
Muhyiddin, who is now in the opposition, has denied the allegations, describing them as a political vendetta.
Anwar’s office and the MACC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Anwar and Muhyiddin went head-to-head in a tightly contested election in November that resulted in a hung parliament as neither candidate won a parliamentary majority.
Malaysia’s Muhyiddin supports PM bid after unfair election
Malaysia’s constitutional monarch, King Al-Sultan Abdullah, then appointed Anwar as prime minister after forming an alliance with other political parties.
Since the election, Muhyiddin and his party have been under graft investigations.
Two leaders belonging to Muhyiddin’s party in the MACC have been charged with bribery over the economic recovery project launched by his government.
Muhyiddin was questioned by the MACC last month about the same project.
MACC has also seized bank accounts belonging to Muhyiddin’s group.
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