KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian prosecutors charged another former ally of ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak with multiple counts of corruption on Monday as the government continues investigation into the alleged wrongdoing by its predecessor.
Musa Aman, former chief minister of state of Sabah, was charged with 35 counts of corruption involving 263 million ringgit (about 63 million U.S dollars).
The charges involved receiving bribes to approve timber concessions during Musa's 2003 to 2018 tenure as chief minister.
Musa was arrested after being summoned to the country's anti-corruption body in Putrajaya and was charged at a Kuala Lumpur court.
Musa pleaded not guilty for all charges.
Musa is the latest member of the former government to be charged with corruption since the Pakatan Harapan coalition took power following the May 9 general elections.
Among others are former Prime Minister Najib and his former deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who are facing multiple corruption charges involving large sum of funds.
Musa came under the spotlight after being said to have fled the country after the election, before returning in August.
As the government led by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad continues the investigation into corruption, at least several parliamentarians of the former ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO), including ex-ministers, have quitted the party to join Mahathir's coalition.
Mahathir said over the weekend that opposition members of the parliament wishing to defect to the government needed to meet certain conditions before being accepted.
Mahathir's four party coalition, Pakatan Harapan, won the general elections on May 9, deposing the long governing UMNO-led Barisan Nasional coalition.
