Leakage of confidential MAF info to be probed

KUALA LUMPUR: The Armed Forces will investigate allegations of a leakage of confidential information on the appointments and promotions of senior military officers, says Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.

“The ministry, through the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) headquarters, will direct the ProvostMarshal Division to investigate the authenticity of these allegations.

“If the allegations are found to be true, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the law,” he said yesterday.

He also gave assurance that, as the chairman of the Armed Forces Council, every MAF meeting, including meetings where decisions were made, would remain secret.

“I understand that confidentiality of information has been practised since the setting up of the MAF. The ministry will not compromise on any leakage of confidential information,” he said.

On Sunday, the National Patriots Association (Patriot) called on the ministry to investigate what it claimed was a leakage of confidential documents on the recent appointments of senior military officials.

Patriot president BrigJen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said the leakage also included information that former Army Chief Jeneral Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin might be selected as the Defence Forces Chief.

He added that if the contents of the confidential MAF documents were leaked, there was a possibility that there could be a leakage of other classified documents as well.