PETALING JAYA: The investigation into claims of alleged misuse of RM700mil by the two previous federal governments will be referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), say the police.
The funds were related to publicity campaigns and advertising between 2020 and 2022.
According to Wangsa Maju district police chief Supt Ashari Abu Samah, the police will write an official letter to the MACC today regarding the matter.
“The police had received the report. Statements from the complainant have been taken.
“The report will be referred to the MACC for further action,” he said when contacted yesterday.
The police report on the alleged misuse of RM700mil by previous administrations was lodged by an official of Umno communications director Datuk Lokman Noor Adam in December last year.
“The amount spent is huge ... we want to know how it was spent,” Lokman was quoted as saying then.
In November last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament that between 2020 and 2022, some RM700mil was spent on advertising, promotions and publicity to highlight the achievements of the Federal Government.
He added that this meant that close to RM500mil was spent by the eighth prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the balance was spent by his successor Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“But, (Ismail Sabri) did not spend that much and there was a balance in the funds,” Anwar said during the Prime Minister’s Question Time.
Anwar said he did not have any allocations for the government’s publicity campaigns for 2023, but was using the balance of the contract during Ismail Sabri’s administration.
He added that he had instructed the Finance Ministry to allocate not more than RM100mil in 2024 for publicity and promotional activities.
According to the Hansard, Anwar told the House that, in his view, to spend up to RM300mil for a year on promotional activities is excessive and is considered a violation of regulations.
Muhyiddin served as the eighth prime minister for 17 months from February 2020 to August 2021.
Ismail Sabri served as the ninth prime minister for 15 months from August 2021 to November 2022.
When contacted yesterday, Ismail Sabri said the matter had already been explained by Anwar himself in the Dewan Rakyat, adding that such investigations are unnecessary.
“The PM, who is also the Finance Minister, has explained in Parliament in November, and that is the truth.
“The Finance Ministry had stated in a statement that the current government will be using up whatever allocation that was left over from the previous government.
“The current government itself stated that the expenditure during my tenure was only RM200mil, to highlight the efforts and work of the Federal Government using advertisements, promotions and publicity to propagate the government agenda for the period of 2020 to 2022,” said Ismail Sabri, who is now in Mecca.
He said the Parliament Hansard in November recorded Anwar, who is Finance Minister, clarifying the matter in the House.
The Hansard on Nov 7 stated that most of the expenditure was coordinated by the Prime Minister’s Office and that there is an excess of communications contract which was not spent in 2022.
“The excess is being used by the Madani government,” stated the Hansard.
Meanwhile, former environment minister and PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, when contacted, said the allegations are baseless as all audit reports of the expenses of the past governments between 2020 and 2022 were debated and passed in the Dewan Rakyat.
“This trend of lodging police reports calling for the previous leadership to be investigated is akin to seeking vengeance against the previous governments.
“We do not mind if there is solid proof for prosecution, but if these reports are just based on assumptions, it will only burden the police.
“However, if there is solid proof, please go ahead.
“As for me, all these matters are being brought up merely to cover up the failures of the current Federal Government in handling the main issues being faced by the rakyat.
“I suggest the government focus more on the rakyat who are suffering,” he said.
Another former prime minister’s former private secretary, who declined to be identified, claimed that he was not being investigated by the MACC over the issue.
A senior Bersatu leader also declined to comment when contacted yesterday.
“This is nothing but a form of psychological warfare,” said the leader.
