KUALA LUMPUR — Former Dewan Negara deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mohamad has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on suspicion of corruption, according to his lawyer and a party colleagues in Bersatu.
The news of his arrest was first announced by Bersatu activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, and confirmed by lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali to Malaysiakini.
Rafique told Malaysiakini yesterday that he had little information on the reason for Ali’s arrest, other than that it was made under Section 16 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act which pertains to accepting gratification.
Ali was deputy president of the Dewan Negara from December 2020 to May 2023.
Ali, who is also Bersatu deputy information chief, was arrested on April 14. According to Bardul Hisham, his home in Tangga Batu, Melaka, was also raided.
His arrest has raised questions for some in the party over its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s leadership in giving positions to those who had just joined the party.
Ali, who was formerly with Umno, joined Bersatu in May last year.
A Bersatu leader who wished to remain anonymous said Muhyiddin must take responsibility for agreeing to appoint Ali as deputy information chief despite allegations about Ali’s legal problems prior to taking up the position.
The party source told Scoop Bersatu never had such a post until Muhyiddin created it “so that Ali could hold it”.
“The appointment was never agreed to by Bersatu’s Supreme Council. Why was Mohamad Ali given special treatment by Muhyiddin?
“This is another evidence that Muhyiddin is no longer as sharp as before in his political calculations. Perhaps his own legal problems are clouding his judgement,” said the Bersatu leader.
Lawyer Rafique was reported by Malaysiakini saying that Ali’s wife and children had also been questioned by the agency’s officers at its Melaka headquarters, but were released after questioning two nights ago when Ali was arrested. –
Badrul Hisham, meanwhile, in his Facebook post alleged that Ali was detained over issues linked to Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Abd Rauf Yusof, who is also Melaka Umno chairman.
Scoop is reaching out to MACC for more information about Ali’s arrest. – April 16, 2024