Malaysia raids several firms as part of anti-graft probe into army procurement

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AdvertisementAdvertisementA Malaysian national flag is seen on an office building in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 28, 2015. (File photo: AFP/Manan Vatsyayana)29 Dec 2025 06:28PM (Updated: 29 Dec 2025 06:30PM) Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's anti-graft agency said on Monday (Dec 29) that it has raided several firms alleged to ⁠be involved in bribery linked to army procurement projects, days after the country's army chief was placed on leave pending an investigation into the matter.Azam Baki, chief commissioner at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption ‍Commission, said the ⁠agency ‍had also frozen six bank accounts belonging to a suspect and their family members as part ⁠of the probe.He did not provide details about the suspect ‍or the companies involved, but said investigations were being carried out under an anti-corruption law related to corporate liability for bribery."MACC officers have conducted searches at several companies believed to be involved to obtain relevant documents and evidence," Azam said ‌in a statement.Malaysia's army chief Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan was put on immediate leave on ‍Saturday ‌to allow room for authorities to fully investigate allegations involving him "without any conflict of interest", defence minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a statement over the weekend, without providing specifics.Citing sources, state news agency ‌Bernama reported last week that MACC had recorded statements from three people as part of a probe into army procurement projects between 2023 and 2025.A preliminary review found that several firms had repeatedly secured high-value contracts, Bernama quoted one of the sources as saying. Reuters was unable to ‌independently verify the report. Malaysia army chief put on leave amid probe, says defence ministerMalaysia’s widening anti-graft probe zeroing in on high-profile corporate bailouts of the Mahathir eraSource: Reuters/coNewsletterMorning BriefSubscribe to CNA’s Morning BriefAn automated curation of our top stories to start your day.Sign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST