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18-01-2026
KUALA LUMPUR: The procurement decisions of the Malaysian armed forces and the police linked to a corruption probe will be temporarily frozen until they fully comply with related rules, state media reported, citing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The suspension comes following allegations of bribery linked to army procurement projects, with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raiding several firms suspected of involvement in a bribery scheme and freezing six bank accounts belonging to a suspect and their family members.
A former army chief and four others were detained on January 8 in connection with the alleged bribery. Local media reported that the former army chief was released from remand on Monday.
Former army Chief Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan has been placed on leave since late December pending an investigation into the matter.
According to Bernama, Anwar said the government, through relevant ministries, will review and reorganize all procurement to ensure transparency in the existing system.
“We will take note and await reports of any loopholes or weaknesses in the procurement system, so that we can review and restructure it to ensure full compliance,” he said. In December, Malaysia’s anti-graft agency said on Monday that it has raided several firms alleged to be involved in bribery linked to army procurement projects, days after the country’s army chief was placed on leave pending an investigation into the matter.
Azam Baki, chief commissioner at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, said the agency had also frozen six bank accounts belonging to a suspect and their family members as part of the probe.
He did not provide details about the suspect or the companies involved, but said investigations were being carried out under an anti-corruption law related to corporate liability for bribery.
“MACC officers have conducted searches at several companies believed to be involved to obtain relevant documents and evidence,” Azam said in a statement.
Malaysia’s army chief Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan was put on immediate leave on Saturday to allow room for authorities to fully investigate allegations involving him “without any conflict of interest”, defence minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a statement over the weekend, without providing specifics.
Malaysian anti-graft authorities detained a former army chief and four others on Wednesday in an investigation into alleged bribery involving military procurement contracts.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will apply for a court order on Thursday to hold the former army chief and his two wives in custody to assist in the probe, the commission said in a statement late on Wednesday.
It did not name those detained but said they had earlier recorded their statements at the MACC’s headquarters. Two others were already being held for further investigation, the commission added.
Former army Chief Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan is believed to have recorded a statement at the MACC headquarters on Wednesday in connection with the probe, state news agency Bernama reported. Media was unable to independently verify the report. Muhammad Hafizuddeain was placed on leave in late December pending an investigation after the anti-graft agency raided several firms alleged to be involved in the bribery scheme, and froze six bank accounts belonging to a suspect and their family members.
The MACC seized 2.4 million ringgit ($591,716) in cash linked to the investigation, state news agency Bernama reported on Wednesday. (Int’l News Desk)
