MACC clears YTL in 1BestariNet case, company says

MACC clears YTL in 1BestariNet case, company says


Published: Dec 18, 2024 12:23 PM


Summary

• The MACC has cleared YTL Communications of wrongdoing in the RM4.47 billion 1BestariNet project, confirming no charges will be pursued.

• The project, awarded in 2011 during Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure as education minister, faced issues like slow connectivity, financial discrepancies, and poor implementation.

• Both the Public Accounts Committee in 2015 and the Auditor-General's 2018 report criticised the project’s execution and failure to meet performance targets.

The MACC has cleared YTL Communications of wrongdoing in the 1BestariNet project, according to an announcement by its parent company.

“We wish to announce that we have received confirmation from MACC that it has concluded its investigation and determined that no charges will be pursued against YTL Comms,” YTL Power International Bhd said in a statement today.

The graftbusters were investigating allegations of payments of RM2.7 billion being made for false claims and had seized documents from YTL Comms and the Education Ministry in September to facilitate investigations.

The RM4.47 billion 1BestariNet project is a Najib-era initiative awarded to YTL Comms in 2011 via open tender to equip schools with broadband services and to create a virtual classroom environment.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin was the education minister at the time.

The project was meant to be completed in 15 years over three phases.

Instead, it became plagued with issues ranging from complaints about slow connectivity to financial discrepancies.

Nur Jazlan Mohamed, who was the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson in 2015, called the first phase of the project a “failure”, citing its poor implementation.

An Auditor-General's Report in 2018 also said the programme fell short of its key performance indices, and the Education Ministry had failed to consider the Value Management Laboratory’s suggestions.