Hisham: Probe all ex-defence ministers over Mindef land swaps, not just me
Sunday, 23 Jun 20197:12 PM MYT
by joseph kaos jr
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein is urging the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) not to be selective and probe all previous defence ministers over any dodgy land swap deals involving the ministry.
The former defence minister, who was questioned for close to seven hours on Sunday (June 23) by the MACC, said only one land swap deal – in Paloh – occurred during his tenure.
"If you want to talk about the land swap case, make sure you talk about all 16 land swaps.
"If you want to talk about procedure, let's see what was the procedure used by the previous leadership, either by the then prime minister or minister of defence.
"Let's see who the culprits are. Let's see who is at wrong because we want to get to the truth.
"If I'm guilty, then charge me. But don't charge me alone. We want justice and not selective prosecution," he told reporters after exiting the MACC headquarters.
Hishamuddin was defence minister from 2013 to 2018. The land swaps concerned go as far back as 1997.
He also claimed that he did not gain anything from the Paloh land swap deal.
"I have said categorically I've not benefited even one sen from this. All I did was in the interest and the welfare of soldiers and their families," he said.
Hishammuddin arrived at the MACC headquarters here at 11am and only left the building at 6pm.
An MACC source said he was questioned from noon to 5.30pm.
Hishammuddin thanked the MACC for their professionalism and said he was treated well during the interrogation.
In February, Mindef revealed that the Government had lost more than RM500mil in land swap deals since 1997.
The ministry revealed that as of last December, five projects had been completed, two were under construction, and nine failed to meet the completion deadline. The other agreements have yet to be signed.
It also concluded that 13 of the 16 projects – including the construction of army camps in Bera, Segamat, Paloh and Hutan Melintang – were approved due to political consideration and not in national interest.
On May 17, Mindef handed over 14 reports on allegedly dubious land swap, after surrendering two reports earlier.
Besides the land value, the cost of the projects was estimated at RM4.88bil.
Findings on one of the audit reports stated that a former prime minister and former defence ministers were found to have been involved in the land swap deal for the development of the Muara Tuang and Penrissen camps in Sarawak.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak was prime minister and while Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was defence minister at the time.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/06/23/hisham-probe-all-ex-defence-ministers-over-mindef-land-swaps-not-just-me/#hFQ3YKfkRGvG447L.99
