No smoke without fire, says Anwar on claims against Muhyiddin’s son-in-law
Anwar Ibrahim accuses Muhyiddin Yassin, Adlan Berhan, and Khairy Jamaluddin of corruption
(FMT) – Allegations that Muhyiddin Yassin had awarded a lucrative contract to his son-in-law would not have come under the spotlight “if it weren’t true”, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
However, he said he will leave it to the proper authorities to get to the bottom of the issue and submit their report.
“I don’t think this (issue) would have been as big as what it has become if it were not true.
“Perhaps there is some truth to the allegations but to what extent, we do not know. Let’s wait for the report (from the probe),” he told reporters after an event here.
The prime minister said the objective is to stop such practices, adding that no minister should be allowed to enrich their own children or in-laws in this manner.
On Thursday, FMT reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was investigating the award of the contract to former prime minister Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, Adlan Berhan.
On the same day, the Pagoh MP denied the allegation, saying he was never involved in the awarding of the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) contract to IRIS Corporation Bhd, which he said was done through an open tender.
Adlan was named in media reports in 2020 as being linked and possibly a key player in the contract for the NIISe.
He was alleged to have links to one of the project’s frontrunners, security solutions provider S5 Holdings Inc, according to a report in The Vibes.
However, S5 group managing director Syed Mohammad Hafiz Jamalullail was reported by The Edge as saying in 2021 that none of his political connections, including Adlan, was involved in S5.
Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, also said the awarding of the contract was done in accordance with the government’s standard procedures and it was supervised by the finance ministry and other relevant ministries.
He said he had no say when it came to such matters.
He also said none of his family members had any vested interest in IRIS Corporation, be it as a shareholder or company director.
The NIISe was reportedly mooted by Muhyiddin when he was the home minister in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government after the Sistem Kawalan Imigresen Nasional was cancelled due to high costs.
Estimates put NIISe’s cost at about RM1.2 billion, about 66% less than the RM3.5 billion estimated for the former project.
Irregularities in Covid-19 vaccine procurement
Separately, the prime minister said he would leave it to the MACC to probe claims of irregularities in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.
“That one, we leave it to the MACC. It’s not up to me any more. All I did was submit (to the MACC) information provided by the health ministry,” he said.
On Feb 8, Anwar said parts of the procurement did not follow procedure, including that it was signed off without the approval of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
He added that the ministers involved would have to answer for it.
In response, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin dismissed the claims, saying that all purchases made by the Perikatan Nasional-led (PN) government were brought to the Cabinet.
“Therefore, the AGC would be privy and (would have) provided its comments. The procurement was signed off by the health ministry,” he said in a WhatsApp message.
