MACC opens probe into 16 Defence Ministry land swap deals

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has initiated investigations into each of the 16 land swap deal cases involving the Defence Ministry, which was said to have taken place in the past 25 years.

MACC Chief Commissioner Latheefa Koya said the cases occurred under the tenure of various previous ministers and staff.

The remarks by the anti-graft agency chief clarified a statement by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, who alluded to the possibility of there being only one investigation paper being opened by MACC on the cases.

“I believe Hanipa was talking about one of them, which was a land swap.

“But MACC definitely received more than one (investigation paper). (There are) 16,” said Latheefa.

“But it must be noted that the land swap deals that were given is a long list of cases that go (back) more than 25 years as well.

“We will need time. We would have difficulty locating some of the evidence and tracking them because it was over 25 years ago, involving different ministers and various civil servants who have changed over the years.”

Latheefa said this on the sidelines of the International Conference on Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing here yesterday.

Latheefa said the MACC investigations would also look into why the deals were entered into in such a manner and this would see the need for a more in-depth investigation.

“It is not as simple as handing us an audit report.

The word “land swaps” in itself is not wrong, but we need to know why the deal was made and why the deal was made in that manner.

“We are investigating. I believe not every case will be a fullblown prosecution, but you need to give us some time.”

In February, the Defence Ministry revealed that the government had lost more than RM500 million in land swap deals since 1997.

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu had previously said the findings were the results of investigation, which were presented by the Committee on Investigation, Government Procurement and Finance, chaired by Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, on Jan 28.

It was reported that 16 land swap deals were carried out by the ministry involving up to 1,183 hectares of land.

The land at various camps in Bukit Kinrara, Hutan Melintang, Bera, Segamat, Paloh and Hutan Melintang were reported to be worth RM4.8 billion, while the cost of the projects was tagged at RM4.9 billion.