THE Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed that it will not compromise on any form of corruption or abuse of power involving senior officers of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said on Friday.
He stressed that the ministry treats all complaints and reports seriously, particularly those relating to integrity breaches within the country’s defence establishment.
However, he cautioned that some allegations are made without credible evidence, posing a risk to the reputation and credibility of the armed forces if left unchecked.
“We do not excuse any element of corruption or abuse of power, especially within the Ministry of Defence,” Mohamed Khaled said.
“From time to time, we receive complaints and reports. Recently, some complaints have been accompanied by various forms of evidence that may be difficult to deny or refute.
“But there are also complaints that are merely accusations without proof. The recent allegations I have seen fall into this category, as they were made without supporting evidence. If this continues, it will certainly affect the credibility and good name of the Malaysian Armed Forces,” he said.
The minister was speaking at a press conference after attending a community engagement programme in Kampung Makam, Kota Tinggi.
Mohamed Khaled, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kota Tinggi, said asset declarations by senior armed forces officers are already carried out through structured internal mechanisms within their respective departments.
“For every appointment, we obtain information and input from various agencies and departments, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and others.
“Through this process, we are aware of the assets involved and related matters. However, for internal purposes, these declarations are not made public,” he explained.
He added that individuals affected by baseless allegations would pursue appropriate legal action should such claims be proven defamatory.
“As the minister responsible, I will ensure that suitable actions are taken so that slander or negative perceptions can be prevented from damaging the reputation of the Malaysian Armed Forces,” he said.
The remarks come amid reports that political activist Chegubard lodged a police report against a senior armed forces officer over alleged money laundering activities.
The report was filed at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters on December 22, with Chegubard claiming to possess a forensic financial report involving the individual’s personal accounts.
A separate report was also submitted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission earlier this week.
Subsequently, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that an investigation paper had been opened under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
On Tuesday, MACC officers visited the Defence Ministry, with investigations focusing on projects carried out through open tender procurement methods as well as procurements under the Army’s responsibility centres.
Initial findings revealed that between 2023 and 2025, the Army conducted 158 procurement projects exceeding RM500,000 in value, alongside 4,521 projects below that threshold. Preliminary reviews indicated that several companies repeatedly secured high-value contracts, raising concerns.
As of December 24, the MACC had recorded statements from three individuals to assist in the ongoing investigation into Army procurement projects. - January 2, 2026
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