PETALING JAYA: Chief of Army Jen Datuk Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan has been placed on leave as investigations into allegations linked to him continue.
“In order to allow the authorities the necessary space to conduct investigations into certain allegations that have been reported involving the Chief of Army, he will be placed on leave with immediate effect until the completion of the investigation.
“This administrative measure is taken to ensure that the investigation process proceeds smoothly without any conflict of interest,” Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a statement on Saturday (Dec 27).
He added that Navy Chief Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain is now acting Armed Forces Chief following the retirement of Armed Forces Chief Jeneral Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar.
Previously, three individuals had been called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to have their statements recorded in connection with an investigation into military procurement projects.
The MACC also received a complaint and recorded a statement from activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, at its headquarters.
MACC officers were also dispatched to the Defence Ministry at about 11.30am on Tuesday (Dec 23) to begin preliminary investigations into several projects involving the army from 2023 to the present.
