London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 12, 2025

Malaysia ex-PM charged with corruption over Covid spending

Malaysia ex-PM charged with corruption over Covid spending

Malaysia's former prime minister who led during the height of the pandemic has been charged with corruption — a move that ratchets up already bitter political tensions in the country.
Muhyiddin Yassin, 75, was arrested just months after losing an election to PM Anwar Ibrahim in November.

The former PM has been accused of bribery and money laundering through his government's Covid spending fund.

He rejects the allegations, which his supporters say are politically driven.

The criminal case aimed at the leader of the conservative opposition alliance comes ahead of crucial state elections in July.

Muhyiddin is now the second former Malaysian prime minister to face corruption charges, after Najib Razak was jailed to 12 years for corruption involving the state's 1MDB investment firm.

Now the leader of a Malay-ethnic, Muslim alliance, Muhyiddin ran the country from 2020 to 2021 for 17 months.

He has a long-time rivalry with current PM Anwar. The two have a history of political betrayals that has fuelled a long enmity.

Multiple charges of bribery and money laundering were laid against the former leader in a Kuala Lumpur court on Friday.

Prosecutors have accused him of sourcing $51m (£42m) in bribes from companies who hoped to benefit from an emergency government spending programme. They have also alleged two instances of money laundering through the fund.

If convicted he faces 20 years in prison. Muhyiddin entered a not guilty plea in court on Friday and was released on bail - although his passport was withheld.

The opposition leader was charged just a dayafter appearing at an anti-corruption watchdog's probe into the allegations.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission launched the probe in February, freezing his party's bank accounts. Two former party leaders have also been arrested on corruption charges.

The incident further fuels tensions in Malaysian politics.

Muhyiddin's conservative ethnic-Malay, Muslim alliance was most popular among the country's majority Malay voter population in November's election.

But PM Anwar Ibrahim eventually secured power with a progressive, multi-ethnic coalition - after joining up with the once all-powerful but now disgraced United Malays National Organisation party (UMNO) which has been tainted by corruption. Anwar's deputy, the current UMNO leader, is also facing corruption charges.

July's state elections are being widely seen as a test of support for the current prime minister.

That has added to the strong belief among many of Mr Muhyiddin's supporters that his prosecution is political.

The case is being viewed by many Malaysians through the prism of intense rivalries which have shaken the country's politics since the historic defeat five years ago of the once unbeatable UMNO.

The country has seen five different prime ministers in as many years - a trial of a senior figure is inevitably viewed as a political event, observers say.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
×