Army Chief Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan takes immediate leave as MACC investigates money laundering allegations linked to procurement projects.
KUALA LUMPUR: Army Chief Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan (pic) has taken immediate leave pending an investigation into money laundering allegations.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the administrative measure ensures the investigation proceeds smoothly without any conflict of interest.
The allegations were made by activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, who accused a senior Malaysian Armed Forces officer of involvement in money laundering.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed an investigation under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 is underway.
MACC officers visited the Defence Ministry last Tuesday, focusing on projects implemented through open tenders and procurements under the Army’s Pusat Tanggungjawab (PTJ).
The investigation, launched on Dec 23, found that from 2023 to 2025, there were 158 army procurement projects exceeding RM500,000 and 4,521 projects below that value.
Initial checks identified several companies that were frequently awarded high-value contracts, raising suspicions.
As of Dec 24, the MACC has recorded statements from three individuals to assist the investigation.
