MACC Inquire Former Malaysian PM for Alleged Corruption

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has summoned Malaysia’s former prime minister Ismail Sabri, who served as the ninth and the shortest-serving prime minister of Malaysia from 2021- 22, as part of their investigation of the RM700 million scandal allegedly spent by the previous government on the promotion of Covid 19 project called “Keluarga Malaysia” that promoted the idea of coming together as nation given the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The investigation is inquiring about contracts made for the promotions and advertisement of the program’s campaign using billboards, TV ads etc.

What is the ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ program?

The “Keluarga Malaysia” program, also known as Family Malaysia Program, was launched and announced by the former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri back in August 2021 in his inauguration speech. The program promised to uplift the economic conditions of the working class families with the execution of various government funded initiatives to counter the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .

Nevertheless, the “Keluarga Malaysia” program faced massive criticism from the general public when its inessential use of public money came into light. The program faced disapproval and criticism from both the media and the public due to the allegations of misuse of public resources in its promotion and campaign period from 2021-22.

MACC Investigation Against Former Finance Minister

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also investigated former prime minister Ismail Sabri’s closest ally and cabinet minister, Tun Abdul Daim Bin Zainuddin, his then finance minister. Zainuddin came under fire after the groundbreaking release of Pandora Papers in 2021, which exposed the offshore financial assets of the former finance minister held in secret using confidential financial mechanisms in foreign tax havens.

Former finance minister Daim Bin Zainuddin has responded to these investigations against him as a “political witch hunt”. His wife responded to the allegations as her husband is being targeted for his massive success as a multi-millionaire businessman. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) responded that investigations against the former finance minister are being carried out on credible information leaked by the Pandora Papers, and under the Section 36 (1) (a) of the MACC Act 2009, a notification was released on 7th of June 2023 in the initial part of the investigation.

Under the Malaysian Anti-Terrorism Financing, Anti-Money Laundering, & Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act passed in 2001 and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act implemented in 2009, former finance minister, Daim Bin Zainuddin is now being charged with abuse of power and extensive money laundering. His financial assets in Malaysia as well as in foreign countries are under investigation whereas, he has called these investigations against him as politically motivated “witch hunt”.

The Finance Minister’s wife, Naimah Khalid claimed that his husband is being targeted for political vengeance due to his success as a businessman. She stated that her husband had an economic success and became a multimillionaire 40 years ago, way before becoming prime minister of malaysia.

She gave the following statement before visiting Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters: “A campaign of disinformation and misperception is being spread, suggesting that just because he is wealthy, he is therefore corrupt,”

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has also taken control of the finance minister’s family owned 274-meter-tall skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, the famous Menara Ilham, which is known as Malaysia’s 7th tallest building.