MACC may summon Mahdzir, Muhyiddin in 1BestariNet probe

MACC is considering summoning former education minister Mahdzir Khalid to facilitate its investigation into the 1BestariNet case, where a company the ministry engaged in providing broadband services to 8,000 schools allegedly made false claims.

According to a source close to the probe, Mahdzir, along with former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, is on the investigators' list.

“Many have mentioned Muhyiddin’s name because the project started during his time as the education minister, but this investigation is not only strictly during Muhyiddin’s (time).

“People forgot about Mahdzir (above), who became the education minister after Muhyiddin was sacked. He decided to continue with the project.

“So there are two former ministers that we plan to call up later on if the need arises because ministers were the ones who decided on policy matters,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

MACC recently launched an investigation into the 1BestariNet project - that the Education Ministry awarded YTL Communications Sdn Bhd in 2011 - over alleged payments for false claims.

The RM4.47 billion programme, awarded via open tender, was to equip over 10,000 schools nationwide with broadband services and create a virtual classroom environment.

Muhyiddin was the education minister at the time (2009-2015) under former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s administration. Mahdzir took over the post from 2015 to 2018.

Since the probe began, MACC has recorded a statement from former education minister Maszlee Malik, who decided to discontinue the project after taking office in 2018.

The anti-graft agency also raided YTL’s office and a government office, both in Kuala Lumpur.

Inspecting schools for contract delivery

When contacted, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said he did not discount the possibility of MACC calling Mahdzir and Muhyiddin to record their statements over the case.

He said the agency wants to analyse the evidence it collected before deciding whether to call in the former ministers.

Asked for the latest update on the case, Azam said MACC investigators are now verifying monthly claims the company made.

MACC officers have also visited several schools to check whether services have been delivered as the company claimed, he added.

As indicated by a source to Malaysiakini, MACC was scrutinising a contract requirement for the company to build a transmission tower in every school.

Azam said investigators are expected to cover “as many schools as possible”, estimating it would take at least a few months as they have a limited number of officers.

“As of last week, we have recorded statements from at least 30 witnesses. They include officers from the Education Ministry, company employees, and others.

“Now, one of the challenges we are facing is to interview ministry officers who were involved in handling the project’s procurement process because many of them have since retired.

“We are also waiting for some more documents from the Education Ministry and Finance Ministry,” he added.

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