Report: A ‘long list of VVIPs’ await their turn to be summoned for MACC interrogation

Focus Malaysia:

Report: A ‘long list of VVIPs’ await their turn to be summoned for MACC interrogation

A FORMER finance minister, a Tan Sri businessman and key government officials are among “a long list” of individuals that the graft buster agency will haul up in due course to facilitate probe into alleged graft involving the procurement and management of the government’s fleet of vehicles worth RM4.5 bil.

Confirming that his officers had raided the businessman’s residence and four companies on Thursday (Jan 18), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said a long list of individuals would be called up to explain two issues.

“We want to find out as to why this company was given the job to manage the government’s vehicles,” he was quoted by The Star as saying.

“Secondly, we also want an explanation as to why the intention to give this (same) project to another company was cancelled despite it having received the letter of intent (LOI) from the Finance Ministry.”

The concession to supply and manage government vehicles has been held by Spanco Sdn Bhd since 1993. However, an open tender was launched after the contract ended in 2019.

Berjaya Group and Naza Sdn Bhd later formed a consortium and secured the contract through a letter of intent (LOI) in that year.

But in July last year, Berjaya’s founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun filed a lawsuit against the Finance Ministry and Spanco regarding the terminated LOI, alleging that the contract was awarded to Spanco despite its higher bid.

Tan’s claims prompted calls for a MACC investigation but there were no developments until the recent raid at the residence of a businessman with the title Tan Sri on Jan 18.

Then Opposition leader tan Sri Lim Kit Siang had exposed the exorbitant cost of dealing with Spanco on May 3, 1994 (Source credit: FreeMalaysian (@FreeMsian) on X)

To a question by The Star, Azam said the former finance minister would be called as he could help shed light on the two issues in question.

“We will have the information and explanation to this given his position at the time. It is also possible for us to call up a former prime minister to determine if he is aware of the matter as it happened during his administration,” he noted.

Additionally, officials from the company in question as well as companies with links to the Tan Sri and the said government contract would also be summoned, according to Azam.

“My officers are going through the documents taken during the raid. They will then call up the individuals involved for questioning. This will be done as soon as possible,” he added.

The three other companies are said to be entities that carry out investments for the Tan Sri’s finances. It is learnt that the raiding party was looking to obtain documents as they establish possible elements of corruption in the supply and management of the government’s fleet of vehicles.

“Sources said the Tan Sri was present when the raiding team arrived but it could not be determined if he was at home or in one of the offices,” added The Star. – Jan 22, 2024