Hisham claims he has given employment offers to the special forces escorts protecting him while the Armed Forces say escorts for the former minister should have ceased after GE14.
The three Armed Forces personnel currently protecting Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein have been given offers of employment, the former defence minister said on Saturday (Aug 25).
Hishammuddin, in a Twitter posting, said he had offered the officers to work with him but they must first resign from the Armed Forces.
“They are so close to my family and I, having served us for so many years,” said Hishammuddin.
He added that the two Navy special operations force (Paskal) officers and the Army commando working as his bodyguards were part of his security detail for a temporary period.
The three officers had reportedly been attached to Hishammuddin since he became defence minister in 2013.
His twitter posting comes in the wake of the ministry being directed to investigate allegations that three military special forces personnel were still working as his escorts.
On Saturday, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said that an investigation will be conducted after learning about the allegations from a news portal report.
“The necessary action will be taken if there is any infringement of rules and regulations,” he said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
The news portal reported that the two Paskal officers are still on active duty, while details on the commando were scant. However, sources quoted by the portal said he had been photographed with Hishammuddin recently.
The Armed Forces source claimed the trio were pulling in two salaries, both from Hishammuddin and the military.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Armed Forces said it had terminated escort services provided by special forces members for Hishammuddin immediately after the May 9 polls.
The Armed Forces confirmed that it has carried out an investigation into the claims as instructed, but did not elaborate on its findings.
Nevertheless, it said it will come down hard on any serving officers who are found to be carrying out duties for any unauthorised party.
“The Armed Forces will take appropriate action to ensure members who are still serving do not carry out any jobs for those who have no right nor link, based on the current regulations.
“At the same time, stern action will be taken against any of its members found to have violated the current rules and regulations,” the statement read.