PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has rubbished claims that he awarded the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) contract to a company linked to his son-in-law.

The former prime minister was referring to a news portal report on Feb 8 claiming that the contract was awarded to the company linked to his son-in-law.

“I strongly deny this accusation. It is malicious defamation deliberately designed to tarnish my dignity and that of my family,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday (Feb 9).

He said during his time as prime minister, he was not involved in the process of awarding the NIISe contract to the company, which was carried out through an open tender.

“The contract procurement process was done according to the government’s normal procurement procedures under the supervision of the Finance Ministry and related ministries.

“It was not under my responsibility or jurisdiction as prime minister at that time,” he said, adding that none of his family members have interests in the company mentioned, either as company directors or shareholders.

“How can my family, who does not have any interest in the company awarded the contract, be accused of abusing power?

“I believe this is part of a series of malicious accusations against me,” he said.