Muhyiddin: 'Royal bribe' slander an offence under Sedition Act

Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has come out swinging over the accusation that the opposition had attempted to bribe the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to unseat the government.

He said those responsible for the “vile, excessive and outrageous slander” as well as those spreading it have committed a grave offence under the Sedition Act and Penal Code.

He noted how some in Pakatan Harapan, including those in government, have also jumped on the bandwagon.

“A police report has been made by PN secretary-general and Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin so that those involved are investigated,” Muhyiddin said in a statement this afternoon.

Yesterday, Hamzah’s private secretary Ahmad Ikhwan Fadhli lodged a police report over a blog post which implicated his boss.

The blog claimed that Hamzah tried to bribe the Agong to change the government.

Muhyiddin denied any attempts to overthrow the government, pointing to the Federal Constitution.

"The Federal Constitution allows a government to be formed either through an election or outside of an election when the prime minister resigns for any reason.

"This constitutional provision must be followed in determining any formation or change of government,” the former prime minister said.

‘Govt covering up mistakes’

Muhyiddin also accused those in the government of weaponising defamation suits to cover up their mistakes and weaknesses.

In his police report, Ikhwan described the claim as a fabricated form of provocation designed to cause a loss of faith in Hamzah.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad also railed against the blog’s claim, calling for evidence of the bribe.

Taking to Facebook, Mahathir said he was responding after “social media carried a statement that I bribed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with RM500 million to RM1 billion”.

Two days ago, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary Azman Abidin urged police to investigate allegations that some parties are willing to provide funds of up to RM1 billion to topple the government as part of the Dubai Move, although it is not clear whether his statement is linked to Ikhwan’s police report.

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