PAS Youth has urged a thorough and transparent probe into the ongoing military tender procurement graft and “parti yeye” scandal, describing these matters as a serious threat to national security.
The party’s youth wing chief, Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, highlighted that corruption in tender procurements not only reflected weaknesses in the administration but also directly impacted the quality of national defence, military equipment, and the armed forces’ preparedness.
“When contracts are awarded based on corruption instead of merit and genuine need, then the military risks obtaining equipment that does not fulfil the requirements.
“This not only results in wasting the rakyat’s money, but also endangers the lives of armed forces members during actual military operations,” he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Security said it would summon the Defence Ministry and armed forces to explain the scandals affecting the military establishment.
This came following the MACC’s arrest of former army chief Hafizuddeain Jantan over alleged corruption and viral claims of immoral activities inside military bases.
Risk of foreign ‘spies’
Commenting on the “immoral activities” allegedly involving alcohol and escorts in military officers’ mess halls, Afnan described it as “not only tarnishing the military's reputation, but also contradictory to local values”.
He urged members of the armed forces to reject such practices, which he said often came from foreign culture, and reminded them to strengthen religious practices to prevent such incidents.
“Without genuine implementation of religious values, it is not only detrimental to the morale and reputation of the military, but it also potentially risks national safety as a whole,” he stressed.
Yesterday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan also expressed similar sentiments, emphasising that “issues of morality” cannot be considered “private affairs” if national security is involved.
He noted that the nation’s safety could have been jeopardised through such events, which could have been infiltrated by foreign “spies”.
The Kota Bharu MP, who is also part of the PSSC on security, further called for firm, professional, and timely investigations.
Afnan today also urged investigations to be conducted without meddling from any parties.
“We should not compromise on such misconduct, and stern action must be taken accordingly towards those found guilty,” he said.
Bank accounts frozen, senior officer remanded
Last month, Port Dickson Bersatu chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin alleged that a forensic review of documents that he received anonymously showed monthly transactions amounting to tens of thousands of ringgit credited into the accounts of a senior army officer and his family members.
His complaints led to Hafizuddeain’s appointment as the next armed forces chief to be put on hold, despite the appointment having been decided at an Armed Forces Council meeting and receiving royal assent.
On Dec 27, Hafizuddeain was ordered to go on leave to allow an investigation to take place, with probes conducted under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
Subsequently, on Dec 29, MACC then froze six bank accounts belonging to him and his family members.
Hafizuddeain and his two wives were detained earlier this week after presenting themselves at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
Yesterday, he was granted a seven-day remand by the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court to assist in ongoing investigations. - Mkini
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