Don't challenge me, Anwar tells Muhyiddin on RM600 billion funds

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today cautioned Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin against challenging his government regarding the issue of RM600 billion in funds allegedly misappropriated by the government under the latter’s administration.

Anwar said based on the information obtained, there were some processes and procedures that were not followed by the PN government, adding that there were companies with family interests involved.

"So don’t challenge me. I want to focus on governing the country, driving economic growth and providing welfare for the people.

"But once we are challenged, we will have to look into things," Anwar said in his first press conference as finance minister in Putrajaya today. 

Yesterday, Muhyiddin told a media conference after delivering a speech at the PN Grand Finale talk in conjunction with the Padang Serai election that Anwar should investigate the matter before making any statements.

Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, questioned Muhyiddin on his statement when he was prime minister, calling it misleading.

"The statement is misleading, it is as if the government spent so much money for the people, (but) a large amount is actually EPF (Employees Provident Fund) money which belongs to the people. I commented on this two years ago in Parliament.

"The people thought the government was spending so much (for them). Now he (Muhyiddin) has admitted, actually, it was not the government’s money because the money is EPF money and money belonging to banks through the moratorium.

"But there are other tens of billions of ringgit, which shows there was a violation of the rules," he said.

On a statement by  PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan asking the prime minister to provide evidence that Perikatan Nasional had received funding from gaming companies for the recent general election, Anwar advised him not to be hasty in issuing statements on the matter.

"Don't be hasty because I am now the finance minister, I have the file," he added.