PUTRAJAYA: The tourism, arts and culture ministry’s secretary-general is currently being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), its minister Mohamaddin Ketapi confirmed today.
However, Mohamaddin said he did not know why the anti-graft body called in ministry secretary-general Isham Ishak for questioning.
“I am stating here that this Pakatan Harapan government is a clean government,” he told reporters at his office here.
“I will not turn a blind eye to officers in this ministry or any department involved in corruption.”
He said he has yet to be officially informed why his ministry’s secretary-general is under investigation.
He said he could not say more as he “might be guilty of sub judice” if he does.
Normally, it will be sub judice to discuss a case when a person has been charged in court.
Isham was called up by MACC officials yesterday and today, according to a source in Mohamaddin’s office.
“He’s not been arrested. He has only been called in for questioning,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
In April last year, former Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong had called on the authorities to look into a promotional contract between Tourism Malaysia and a local company, claiming it had been given under “dubious” circumstances.
He had claimed that a meeting on the RM99.7 million directly-negotiated deal, as well as the approval and signing of the agreement, had taken place within a single day.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Mirza Mohammad Taiyab refuted Wee’s allegations at the time.
Last June, MACC visited the tourism, arts and culture ministry and this was believed to be due to the contract issue.
Earlier this year, former Tourism Malaysia chairman Siew Ka Wai was remanded for four days to assist in investigations while a secretary-general of a ministry was also questioned later by MACC as part of its probe into the matter.
The source FMT spoke to, however, said it could not confirm whether Isham’s questioning is related to this contract issue.
“We cannot comment until MACC confirms the matter (why he was arrested).”
Mohamaddin, meanwhile, said he has not met Isham or spoken to him about this.
He also said that Isham was the only ministry official to be called up by MACC yesterday and today, adding this will not affect the ministry’s operations.
He also said he did not know who made the MACC report that led the anti-graft body summoning Isham.
He said he would wait for investigations to be completed to see if Isham would need to be told to take a temporary leave of absence.
If this needs to be done, he said he would seek advice from the chief secretary to the government.
Isham took over as the ministry’s secretary-general in February.
MACC issued a notice for Isham to show up yesterday afternoon for questioning at its headquarters in Putrajaya to facilitate investigations under the MACC Act 2009.
The notice was issued the day earlier. - FMT
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