Isham Jalil lodges report against a high-profile individual's purchase of shares in Heitech Padu

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil has urged the police and Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate Farhash Wafa Salvador's purchase of shares in a company that has been shortlisted for a government contract worth RM1bil.

Isham, who lodged a report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters on Thursday (March 21), said he read several news articles on March 18 stating that Farhash, who is also the former political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim, through his investment company Rosetta Partners Sdn Bhd, bought shares amounting to 16.1 million units (estimated value of approximately RM40mil) of a company called Heitech Padu.

"Heitech Padu is a company shortlisted for a government contract worth RM1bil.

"Because the related project uses large government or public funds, and the above individual Farhash is a high-profile individual who has connections with government politicians, I am concerned if there are elements of violation of the law in the above transaction," he said in his police report.

He added that the violations could include Section 188 of the Capital Markets Act regarding inside information or any element of "undue influence" or influencing the government's procurement process.

"This is as stated in a story in The Straits Times (Singapore) entitled ‘Ex-aide of Malaysian PM Anwar takes major stake in a tech firm, raising governance concerns’ dated 17 March 2024," he said, adding that it might conflict with any section in Part IV of the MACC Act or government procurement regulations.

"I also request that the MACC issue a property declaration notice against Farhash in accordance with article 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009," he said.