In Malaysia, Muhyiddin’s corruption trial opens with a fight over TikTok

Former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin

’s corruption trial opened in Kuala Lumpur on Monday with a courtroom fight over the admissibility of TikTok

videos, which prosecutors hope will link millions of ringgit in illicit funds to his Bersatu party.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) assistant enforcement officer Mohd Syawaludin Said was the prosecution’s opening witness.

He told the High Court that he had downloaded two TikTok videos, allegedly featuring Muhyiddin’s voice discussing the case, after stumbling upon them while scrolling on his phone on January 16, 2025, and July 26, 2025.

In a clip played to the court, a voice said to be Muhyiddin’s declared: “Not a single cent went into my pocket. It went to the party.”