MACC says a former PM will be called in soon to facilitate investigations

SEPANG: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be calling in a former prime minister soon to facilitate an investigation into a RM700 million government expenditure for promotion and publicity purposes.

"As of now only one former prime minister is involved," said MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki when confirming the matter to reporters after attending the 2024 Good Governance symposium here today.

He said the former leader is one of the four individuals who will be called in to facilitate the investigation.

"They will be called within this week or the latest next week, " he said, adding that the former prime minister's aide will be questioned as well.

Azam said the investigation is focused on the expenditure of the funds and also on the companies that received the funds.

"The critical aspect is how the funds were spent. We do not have queries on how it was decided or approved. The focus is more on how the companies spent it," he said.

Earlier, it was reported in the media that MACC had initiated a preliminary probe into the RM700 million allocation made by two previous governments for their promotions and publicity agenda between 2020 and 2022.

On the Aman Palestin Bhd investigation, Azam said investigations are geared towards the expenses of several companies related to the organisation.

"We are still looking into the issue of funds spent, including the companies that were set up. And we are investigating if the funds were actually sent to Palestine, Syria, etc," he said.

MACC had previously verified that it had frozen Aman Palestin's 41 bank accounts with a total balance of RM15,868,762 based on allegations of misappropriation of public donations.

-- BERNAMA

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