KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has initiated an investigation into the use of RM700 million for promotional purposes and media buys to publicise the achievements of two federal governments between 2020 and 2022.
A source said MACC today went to the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Department to gather information and obtain relevant documents as part of its probe.
“The expenditure on promotional and publicity initiatives carried out to promote the achievements of the government through all media platforms, including print, digital media and television from 2020 to 2022.”
The source said the initial investigation is to determine how the money was spent and to determine whether procedures were followed.
The source added that the investigation is based on preliminary information as previously stated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when answering a question from Batu MP P. Prabakaran last November, during minister’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat.
Prabakaran had asked how much the government had spent on media promotion of its policies and achievements since 2020 until now.
MACC’s senior director of investigation, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim, confirmed the probe but did not divulge other information.
Earlier today, Scoop reported that an embezzlement and excessive spending probe is focused on Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s time as prime minister.
This is because of the absence of paperwork and documentation involved in the disbursement of about RM500 million for media and publicity contracts.
Investigators, Scoop learns, are looking into whether the state of emergency that came into effect on January 12, 2021 was abused to circumvent procurement processes and governance procedures.
Last November, Anwar said the government capped the expenditure allocation for promotional advertisements and media buys for its policies at RM100 million starting 2024.
“For 2024, I have instructed the Finance Ministry to avoid approving more than RM100 million.”
He added that RM700 million had been spent on publicity for the government through all media platforms, including print, television, and social media.
This amount was mostly under the administrations of Muhyiddin and his successor, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Muhyiddin was prime minister from February 29, 2020 to August 16, 2021. He was succeeded by Ismail Sabri who led the country from August 21, 2021 to November 24, 2022.
Anwar took over the reins on November 24, 2022, with the formation of the current unity government.
The police report lodged at the Setapak police station on December 30, 2023 was in reference to a news article by Utusan Malaysia dated November 11 stating that the amount spent was to publicise the agenda of former governments from 2020 to 2022.
“The amount spent is huge – I feel it is not appropriate and demand that there be details of where this RM700 million of people’s money was spent by the previous governments,” according to the police report sighted by Scoop.
Wangsa Maju police chief Ashari Abu Samah said the case has been referred to the Finance Ministry.
Recently, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the people have the right to know about the “significant” expenditure, and whether it was recorded properly. – January 2, 2024