KLUANG: Former education minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says that he did not take a single sen from the 1BestariNet service tender worth RM4bil, which was awarded to YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YTL) in 2011.
The Perikatan Nasional chairman and Bersatu president added that the matter had been investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) previously.
“It has nothing to do with me. Previously, there was an investigation as someone made a report but the case was investigated and no action was taken.
“I do not know why the matter is being raised again now as during the previous investigation, I was not involved,” he said when met after attending a kenduri rakyat programme held at Kampung Bentong Luar here on Friday (Sept 6).
Muhyiddin, who is also the Pagoh MP, however, added that during the 1BestariNet service tendering period, he was the education minister.
He said that the reason for the 1BestariNet tender was to provide schools throughout Malaysia with access to the Internet.
However, the implementation of the project had issues that Muhyiddin said he knew nothing about.
Muhyiddin claimed that he did not see the contract or the allocation as everything was done by the government through the Finance Ministry at the time.
“I swear I did not take a single sen. It is up to MACC to investigate it as it is their prerogative,” he said, adding that he only knew about the MACC investigation after reading about it in the papers.
On Wednesday (Sept 4), MACC began an investigation into payment claims for the Education Ministry’s 1BestariNet service tender worth RM4bil which was awarded to YTL some 13 years ago.
According to sources, the MACC visited government offices and the YTL Communications Sdn Bhd office in Kuala Lumpur.
Sources said that the focus of the MACC investigation is also aimed at other criminal elements that are subject to the MACC Act 2009.
Meanwhile, MACC Investigation Division senior director, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim, when contacted, confirmed that the case was being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.
He also called on all parties to give the MACC space and time to carry out the investigation without any interference.
