Muhyiddin Has No Exclusive Control Over Party Accounts, Witness Admits

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — A prosecution witness agreed in the High Court today that no individual possessed exclusive control over Bersatu’s financial accounts, highlighting strict institutional oversight and multi-signatory requirements governing party funds.

Testifying in the trial of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Bersatu finance officer Muhammad Zulhelmi Zaulkafly, 34, acknowledged during cross-examination by defence counsel Chetan Jethwani that financial authority was shared across party leadership rather than vested in any single leader.

Zulhelmi, the 22nd prosecution witness, confirmed that cheque transactions for Bersatu’s CIMB Bank account—which was dedicated to receiving political contributions, public donations, and membership fees—required joint authorization from two designated signatories.

The court heard that the account maintained three official signatories: then-party president Muhyiddin, then-deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, and then-treasurer-general Datuk Mohamed Salleh Bajuri, who served as a mandatory signatory.

“The signatories for the account were the party president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, and Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, with any two of them required to sign,” Zulhelmi testified.

Under examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, the witness explained that Bersatu operated a clear institutional division between its bank accounts, with CIMB Bank designated for political contributions and membership fees, while an AmBank account was utilized for administrative and operational expenses.

When asked by DPP Mahadi where donations from the public or companies were deposited, Zulhelmi confirmed they were systematically directed into the official CIMB Bank account.

The witness further detailed the institutional safeguards in place, explaining that the treasurer-general held primary responsibility for monitoring party finances and presenting financial reports directly to Bersatu’s Supreme Leadership Council (MPT).

Questioned by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin regarding the party’s management structure, Zulhelmi noted that while Muhyiddin oversaw the committee’s role and party affairs, the committee as a collective body handled overall administration and financial management.

Muhyiddin, 79, faces four charges under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 regarding alleged gratification for the party in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme between March 2020 and August 2021. The Pagoh MP also faces three charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 involving funds deposited into party accounts between February 2021 and July 2022.

The trial before High Court Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin resumes on Aug 17.

-NMT