PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) met with former education minister Maszlee Malik as part of its ongoing probe into the 1BestariNet project, according to a source.
The source said the meeting was arranged by an investigating officer involved in the case last week, Sinar Harian reported.
The investigating officer has met with Dr Maszlee to obtain more information on this case,
the source was quoted as saying.
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Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the meeting when contacted by the Malay daily. However, he declined to share more details as investigations are still ongoing.
The controversial 1BestariNet project was awarded to YTL Communications in 2011 by Muhyiddin Yassin, who was education minister at the time.
The mega project, designed to provide connectivity and a learning platform for teachers, students and parents, was often criticised for the poor internet service it provided at participating schools.
In 2019, under the Pakatan Harapan government, then education minister Maszlee Malik decided not to extend YTL Communications’s contract, citing findings from independent studies, including those from the auditor-general and the Public Accounts Committee.
He also claimed Muhyiddin had pushed then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his (Maszlee’s) resignation as education minister over his decision not to extend the YTL Communications contract.
On Thursday, Azam said MACC officers are looking into two main issues – the quality of the services provided to schools, and instances where data was not supplied to schools despite claims made.
Earlier this month, it was reported that MACC raided YTL Communications’ Kuala Lumpur office and a government office as part of an investigation into payment claims related to the 1BestariNet service tender.
An MACC source said the investigation is centred on claims involving false details related to RM2.7 billion in payments, as well as other criminal elements under the MACC Act 2009.
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