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PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has questioned Muhyiddin Yassin over his claim that he was overseas undergoing treatment for cancer during the period when he was alleged to have received bribes from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB).

In a Facebook post, Najib wrote “Benar?” (Really?), in response to Muhyiddin’s statement, citing the specific dates mentioned by a witness in the Ahmad Zahid Hamidi corruption trial.

Yesterday, former UKSB administrative manager David Tan testified that Muhyiddin had received RM1.3 million over three transactions on June 4, July 4, and Aug 23, 2018.

Muhyiddin strongly denied the claim, calling it baseless, as he was undergoing surgery and treatment overseas at the time, adding, “It was impossible for me to receive any bribe from anyone (when I was) in that state.”

Najib then listed several news reports from the same months in question, to raise doubts over Muhyiddin’s explanation.

Citing a report in portal Malaysia Gazette, dated June 4, 2018, Najib pointed out that it showed Muhyiddin, as home minister, was well enough to make a visit to the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman that day.

Regarding the second alleged payment on July 4, 2018, he pointed out that Muhyiddin had yet to undergo surgery at that point. To emphasise this, Najib cited a news report announcing the Bersatu president had a successful surgery on July 12, 2018.

The Pekan MP then referred to a news report and social media postings which showed that Muhyiddin was discharged from the hospital on Aug 7, 2018, then returned to Malaysia and was subsequently sworn in as Pagoh MP on Aug 14.

“On Aug 23, 2018 (Muhyiddin) allegedly received RM500k,” Najib wrote referring to the testimony in Zahid’s trial.

Yesterday, Tan told the court he kept a ledger of payments made to Zahid between 2014 and 2018 in spreadsheet files on his laptop computer. He said those named in the ledger were “ministers, politicians and government servants”.

Under cross-examination by lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh, Tan said Muhyiddin, Shafie, former foreign minister Anifah Aman, and former deputy foreign minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican were also recorded in the ledger, filed under code names.

UKSB was the firm that handled the foreign visa system, or VLN, for Chinese tourists. They were appointed by the government in 2016.

The company was implicated in Zahid’s corruption trial, with the former deputy prime minister standing trial over 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from UKSB.