Probe Muhyiddin’s links to 1BestariNet, MP tells MACC

 

Maszlee Malik claims in his new book that Muhyiddin Yassin had pushed for his resignation as education minister under the Pakatan Harapan administration.

PETALING JAYA: Klang MP Charles Santiago wants the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to step in and investigate former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s alleged links to YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, particularly with regards to the 1BestariNet project.

The DAP MP’s call comes after Maszlee Malik revealed that during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration, Muhyiddin had pushed for the former education minister’s resignation over a contract issue with YTL.

Speaking to FMT, Santiago said the project had already drawn lots of brickbats, with people questioning whether it was helpful and if it had been awarded to the wrong people.

He said Maszlee’s revelations suggested that there were vested interests, adding that Muhyiddin, who was home minister then, should know that he cannot represent businesses or make that a reason to push for his Cabinet colleague’s resignation.

“If Maszlee’s allegations are true, that Muhyiddin pushed (then prime minister Dr) Mahathir (Mohamed) to sack or remove him (Maszlee) as education minister, then it shows a stronger connection between Muhyiddin and YTL.

“Also, why did Mahathir listen to Muhyiddin? Tun is the prime minister, he could have said that he trusted his minister. He should have referred this to the MACC to be investigated.

“Obviously, this didn’t happen, so a lot of questions are coming up. One on the governance of the country at the time and another on the relationship between business and politics.

“This has to be really thought out and investigated thoroughly by the MACC. There are suggestions of impropriety,” he said, adding that Mahathir should respond to some of the issues raised as well.

In his newly-released book titled “Memori Bukan Memoir”, Maszlee said he was called to meet Mahathir five times over the decision not to extend YTL’s contract for the 1BestariNet project.

In two of those meetings, the top leadership of the education ministry joined him to explain the decision to end YTL’s contract as the service provider for the project, which Muhyiddin initiated in 2011 when he was education minister.

He added that he was told by Mahathir of how Muhyiddin was “very angry” with him over the issue and wanted Maszlee to extend the contract based on YTL’s wishes, rather than deciding on his own.

In response to Maszlee’s claims, Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) information chief Isham Jalil called for a special committee or a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to be formed to look into the case, adding that there was no closure on the matter after so long.

Santiago said there was probably no need for an RCI to be formed despite the project having cost billions of ringgit, but maintained that it warrants an MACC probe. - FMT