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KUALA LUMPUR: Graft busters have opened an investigation to scrutinise documents received based on a report lodged in connection with claims that Perikatan Nasional had used gambling money to fund its General Election campaign.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission senior director of investigation Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim confirmed that a thorough investigation was being conducted.

“The investigation will cover various aspects including identifying and investigating the background of the companies mentioned in the report,” he said when contacted on Tuesday (June 6).

On May 30, an individual lodged a report with the MACC and submitted documents, urging an investigation over the allegations that Perikatan received funds from gaming companies, which was also used for the elections.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously said that claims made that Perikatan had used gambling money to fund its 2022 election campaign were not baseless.

He said investigations into the allegations that the coalition received funds from gaming companies were ongoing.

Anwar also said Perikatan was welcome to take legal action over his statement but invited them to construe it in full first.

“Read the statement in full, then only take action. If he (Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) wants to do so, go ahead.

“I would not have made the statement if I didn’t have the basis,” he had said during an event in Kuala Lumpur recently.