MACC confirms ex-PM, aides to be quizzed over RM700m spending

 

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki has confirmed that a former prime minister and his aides will be called for questioning.

This is to facilitate investigations into the RM700 million spent for publicity purposes under two previous federal administrations.

Asked if the “ninth prime minister (Ismail Sabri Yaakob)” will be quizzed, Azam answered in the affirmative but did not state when.

“The focus of the investigation is how (government funds) were spent and which firms received it. That is important. We have already called in (representatives) from the firms,” he added.

According to Azam, the former prime minister and the people from his office would be the last people to be called in for the investigation.

“The former PM and his officers (will also be called). I don’t have the full list but at least four individuals will be called,” he told reporters in Sepang this morning.

Previously, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament that his predecessors used the sum for advertising and promotions regarding the federal government’s achievements between 2021 and 2022.

He claimed that the eighth prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin had spent some RM500 million whereas Ismail used about RM200 million.

“This means that, on average, over RM300 million per year was spent on advertising, promotion and publicity to publicise the government’s efforts. I believe this breaches rules and regulations, showing excessive spending,” he said.

Last month, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the people should know the details behind the RM700 million expenditure.

“.. Whether everything was recorded properly or if there were any legal violations,” he added.