Alleged misuse of RM700mil by Muhyiddin’s and Ismail Sabri’s govts.
The investigation into the alleged misuse of RM700 million by the two previous federal governments will be handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), according to the police.
The funds in question were earmarked for publicity campaigns and advertising between 2020 and 2022.
Wangsa Maju district police chief Supt Ashari Abu Samah stated that an official letter will be sent to the MACC regarding the matter.
The police report on the alleged misuse, filed by Umno communications director Datuk Lokman Noor Adam in December last year, has been received, and statements from the complainant have been collected.
In November last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament that between 2020 and 2022, some RM700mil was spent on advertising, promotions and publicity to highlight the achievements of the Federal Government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed Parliament in November last year that approximately RM700 million was spent on advertising, promotions, and publicity between 2020 and 2022 to highlight the achievements of the Federal Government.
Anwar clarified that a significant portion was spent by the eighth prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, with the remaining funds spent by his successor, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“But (Ismail Sabri) did not spend that much and there was a balance in the funds,” Anwar said.
He said he did not have any allocations for the government’s publicity campaigns for 2023 but was using the balance of the contract during Ismail Sabri’s administration.
He added that he had instructed the Finance Ministry to allocate not more than RM100 million in 2024 for publicity and promotional activities.
He emphasized that spending up to RM300 million annually on promotional activities is deemed excessive and a violation of regulations.