THE MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed that it has recorded a statement from former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob regarding the alleged misuse of RM700 million in funds for promotion and publicity campaigns during the previous government's administration.
It is understood that his statement was taken in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Utusan Malaysia reported that the agency took five hours to record Ismail’s statement, from 10am onwards.
Ismail's statement was taken to facilitate investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Act 2001 and the MACC Act 2009, the agency said in a statement last night.
In addition to the Bera MP, the MACC is also reportedly investigating several of his former officials, including an aide who was politically appointed to a senior position in the Prime Minister's Office at the time he was in power.
Bernama had reported on January 2 that the MACC went to the Finance Ministry (MOF) and Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) that day to start investigations and to gather information as well as documents related to the allegations.
It quoted a source as saying that the investigations were based on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s response to a question from Batu MP P. Prabakaran, who was seeking an explanation on how much was spent by the government for promotional activities since 2020.
“The expenditure included promotional and publicity initiatives carried out to promote the achievements of the government through all media platforms including print, digital media and television from 2020 to 2022,” said the source.
The source added that the initial investigation was to determine how the money was spent and to determine whether the proper procedures were followed.
Following Anwar’s response in the Dewan Rakyat, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil posted on social media platform X that the public has the right to know how the RM700 million was spent.
In its statement last night, the MACC added that statements were also recorded from Toh Puan Nai'mah Abdul Khalid – the wife of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin – and their two children, Muhammad Amin Zainuddin and Muhammad Amir Zainuddin, at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
"The three individuals were called to record statements to ascertain several matters related to high-value assets within and outside the country registered under the companies belonging to them, and it is related to the investigation against Daim.
"MACC would like to clarify that a notice has been handed to Tun Daim under Section 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009 on June 7, 2023, while a notice under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009 has also been handed to his family members," the statement said.
Last February, the MACC initiated an investigation into Daim based on revelations and information from the Pandora Papers, and the investigation into his assets is still ongoing. – The Vibes, January 11, 2024
