Malaysia’s anti-graft agency would summon former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and two former Cabinet ministers who served in his administration for the alleged misappropriation of 600 billion ringgit (US$136.3 billion) of public funds for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
The other two are former Malaysian minister of health Khairy Jamaluddin and former Malaysian minister of finance Zafrul Aziz, who now heads the Malayisan Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the New Straits Times reported, citing people it did not name.
The funds for the pandemic included resources for vaccines, the newspaper added.
Photo: AFP / MALAYSIA`S DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION/ NAZRI RAPAAI
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Azam Baki told the New Straits Times that the agency had opened an investigation.
“There have been no calls from the MACC yet,” Zafrul told reporters at a separate event. “If contacted, I will cooperate fully. We have nothing to hide.”
Aides to Muhyiddin and Khairy, as well as commission officials, did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
Photo: REUTERS
News of the probe comes as Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is reviewing projects and plans approved by past administrations in a bid to burnish his credentials as a reformist and fulfill his alliance’s election manifesto promises to fight corruption.
Anwar himself faces criticism for picking the head of the former ruling coalition who faces graft charges as one of his deputies.
Anwar this week said that the Malaysian Ministry of Finance found there was a breach of procedure in the handling of 600 billion ringgit of public funds during Muhyiddin’s time as prime minister.
He also ordered a review of a 5G mobile services contract awarded to Ericsson AB last year, citing concerns about cost and transparency.
Muhyiddin was prime minister until August last year, and now leads the opposition. He and Anwar last month fought a tight election race that resulted in a hung parliament and set off a contest to drum up support from several coalitions to form a government.
Anwar eventually got the consent from the country’s monarch to form a government, but he needs to keep several political blocs happy ahead of a confidence vote in parliament later this month.
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