The MACC will question former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein (photo, above) this Sunday over a series of land swap deals involving the Defence Ministry, MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki said.

“We took (former deputy prime minister) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement yesterday.

“And Hishammuddin will be called (next). He will come to our office this Sunday,” Azam said when asked by the media at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya today.

Hishammuddin helmed the Defence Ministry from 2013 until BN lost power in the 14th general election last year.

Azam also said that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak could also be summoned soon to assist in the investigations.

“We are not denying that we will call him. He could be involved in the case.

“But we won’t call him yet. We need to gather evidence and statements from others first. We will call him (Najib) when the time is right,” Azam (photo, below) added.

MACC had launched an investigation into the land swap deals after an audit by the ministry revealed the involvement of former prime ministers and defence ministers in land swaps deals involving the Defence Ministry's real estates.

This was revealed by current Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu during the tabling of the final report of the Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigating Committee's probe on Mindef in the Dewan Negara on May 9.

Mohamad previously said that the land swaps, all directly negotiated, had resulted in some RM500 million in leakages.

He also alleged that four of the deals were done specifically to build army bases to help politicians win elections.

Duo arrested over missing helicopters

On a separate case also involving the Defence Ministry, Azam said that MACC had arrested two people in connection with its investigation into the purchase of six helicopters worth RM300 million, which were never delivered.

“We have arrested two people from the company which was given the project. They will be remanded for six days.

“The remand began three days ago,” he said.

The ministry previously lodged a report with MACC, saying that it was supposed to have received six McDonnell Douglas MD530G lightweight combat helicopters in 2017 and 2018, but it never received them.

When the deal was signed in 2015, McDonnell Douglas had already cancelled the local company's contract as its agent in Malaysia.

The Malaysian government had paid RM112.65 million, 35 percent of the total cost of the acquisition, to the local company.

MACC to call Zahid, Hisham to assist land swap probe after Raya: Sources

MACC to call Zahid, Hisham to assist land swap probe after Raya: Sources

Mat Sabu's corruption disclosures are the tip of the iceberg

Mat Sabu's corruption disclosures are the tip of the iceberg

Hisham wants proof he benefitted from land swap deals

Hisham wants proof he benefitted from land swap deals

Report finds Mindef land swaps also occurred during Dr M's first term

Report finds Mindef land swaps also occurred during Dr M's first term