MACC to probe ex-PM, finance minister over Spanco deal

MACC will probe individuals involved in the awarding of contracts to procure and maintain the government’s fleet of vehicles to Spanco Sdn Bhd in the 1990s.

Its chief commissioner Azam Baki said this included the prime minister and finance minister at the time.

All the individuals’ statements are needed to wrap up the probe into the deal, Berita Harian quoted Azam telling reporters in Kuching, Sarawak, today.

“We will call whoever decided at that time to award the project to Spanco.

“We see the company was established around 1998 or 1999, so whoever was involved then, including the then prime minister and finance minister, will be called up to have their statements recorded to see what they know,” he said.

According to Azam, the focus of MACC’s probe into Spanco was on how the company had been consistently getting the fleet maintenance contract, as well as the issue of the cancellation of the offer to another company despite the latter offering a lower price tag.

“We have spoken to more than 20 individuals, and frozen more than 80 company and individual accounts.”

It is worth noting that Spanco has been the sole company to hold the concession to supply and maintain government vehicles since the 1990s.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged decisive enforcement action including by the MACC and the Inland Revenue Board, in the fight against corruption and misappropriation.

He cited the Spanco case as an example of the government’s determined battle against graft.

Tycoon under scrutiny

Last month, MACC raided the house of a tycoon, as well as offices of companies affiliated with the businessperson, as part of a probe into Spanco.

Documents on 100 private and corporate accounts were reportedly seized for investigation during the raid.

Following this, the bank accounts of the tycoon said to hold tens of millions of ringgit, were also reportedly frozen.

When Spanco’s contract ended in 2019, an open tender was launched for the next contract award.

Berjaya Group and Naza Sdn Bhd formed a consortium and obtained the contract through a letter of intent (LOI) that year. However, the LOI was terminated in 2020, and the tender was awarded to Spanco.

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