Ex-Education minister Mahdzir Khalid to be charged

Former Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid is expected to be charged with graft on Friday afternoon along with another individual.

Sources indicated to Malaysiakini that the Umno vice-president will be summoned to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters on Thursday.

It is understood that Mahdzir will be charged in relation to the solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

Bernama reported last month that Mahdzir had been quizzed by the MACC for five hours on Oct 16, over the award of the contract for a solar hybrid power project for remotely located schools in Sarawak.

It was reported in early June there were possible irregularities in the award of a contract for the RM2.5 billion solar hybrid power project in Sarawak directly on the orders of a former senior leader of the country.

Present Education minister Maszlee Malik was earlier quoted this month that the “many skeletons” of his predecessor would be revealed.

Earlier this month, former premier Najib Abdul Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor and her former aide Rizal Mansor, were charged separately at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur for graft in relation to the solar project.

With this, Mahdzir will be the second senior Umno leader besides party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to be charged in court.

Zahid was charged with 45 counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and graft last month.

Malaysiakini is currently contacting Mahdzir for comment. - Mkini