Probe claim of RM500mil commission paid to Bersatu, urges Pejuang rep

(FMT) – The office of a Selangor assemblyman has lodged a police report, urging authorities to investigate a claim that RM500 million had been paid to a political party through a high-profile lawyer.

In the report lodged at the Dang Wangi police station on March 12, Kuang assemblyman Sallehudin Amiruddin claimed the money was a commission for helping Putrajaya reach a settlement with Goldman Sachs.

The allegation had gone viral on social media last week.

In a statement, Sallehudin said the message that went viral claimed that the money would be used for the 15th general election.

Sallehudin, of Pejuang, wants authorities to verify the authenticity of the message and if the money had indeed been paid.

He also wants authorities to verify the contents of the message.

If it is true, he said, it would mean that some people connected to the government had obtained a commission from the return of money linked to 1MDB.

Sallehuddin said the message also contained claims that the Perikatan Nasional government would use enforcement agencies to pressure opposition and Umno members of Parliament to back the ruling coalition.

Similar claims have also been made by opposition leaders.

Sallehuddin said a similar report would be lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission soon.

In July last year, finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said Goldman Sachs will pay US$2.5 billion in cash and guarantee the return of at least US$1.4 billion which had been seized by the US government as part of the misappropriated 1MDB funds.

The opposition had previously criticised the settlement, with former finance minister Lim Guan Eng saying the Pakatan Harapan government had claimed US$7.5 billion from Goldman Sachs.