PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators have gone to the Finance Ministry as part of their investigations into the alleged misuse of RM700mil by two previous administrations.
Sources with knowledge of the investigation confirmed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has already started an initial probe into the allegations that the amount was spent for promotion and publicity activities between 2020 and 2022.
“Aside from the ministry, investigators have also gone to the Prime Minister’s Department to gather information and documents regarding the case,” a source told The Star.
The same source said the investigation was being carried out based on initial information as stated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In November last year, Anwar told Parliament that RM700mil had been spent since 2020 to promote the government.
The bulk of the spending was handled by the Prime Minister’s Office for advertisements and media buys to promote government initiatives.
The Prime Minister also said close to RM500mil was spent by the eighth premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the balance by his successor Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
However, Anwar pointed out that Ismail Sabri did not spend the entirety of it as there was balance in the funds which his administration had used during his administration.
Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said he was unaware if the police’s investigation into the matter had been handed over to the anti-graft body.
“Whether there is a police probe into the claims, we will investigate. In fact, we have already started a probe into the RM700mil allegation,” he said when contacted.
On whether the two former prime ministers would be called up to have their statements recorded, Azam said he did not rule out the possibility.
“Our officers will be contacting them in the coming days,” he said without elaborating.
Recently, Wangsa Maju police chief Supt Ashari Abu Samah said investigation into claims of alleged misuse of funds would be referred to the MACC.
