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Muhyiddin "I Am Malay First" Yassin is the Bersatu boss and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman - BH Online pic
MACC raids YTL Communications in RM4b 1BestariNet project probe
1BestariNet certified as successfully completed, says YTL Power
-04 Sep 2024, 09:19 PM
The parent company of the recently raided YTL Communications ‘trusts the matter will be satisfactorily resolved’.
YTL Power International Bhd said its subsidiary was selected for the project because of its technically compliant and most cost-effective bid. (YTL pic)
PETALING JAYA: YTL Power International Bhd has come to the defence of its subsidiary YTL Communications Sdn Bhd which was raided by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) earlier today in its probe into the 1BestariNet project.
YTL Power said the project, which ended on June 30, 2019, had been certified by the education ministry as having been successfully completed at the end of the contract period.
“The 1BestariNet project was awarded to YTL Communications in 2011 by the education ministry, pursuant to an open tender involving 19 companies that tendered bids for the project.
YTL Communications was selected for being the most technically compliant and most cost-effective bid, it said in a statement.
The company did not confirm whether its subsidiary’s office was raided by the graft busters, instead saying MACC had merely requested information from YTL Communications regarding 1BestariNet.
The utilities arm of YTL Corporation Bhd maintained that YTL Communications would fully cooperate with the MACC probe, and trusts that the matter will be satisfactorily resolved.
Earlier, an MACC source said the anti-graft agency raided YTL Communication’s Kuala Lumpur office and a government office today, as part of an investigation into the RM4 billion 1BestariNet project.
The source said several documents were seized in the raids and that several witnesses would be summoned to assist in the probe.
The investigation was focussed on the submission of false claims involving about RM2.7 billion, said the source, adding that the MACC was also looking into elements of other crimes.
MACC investigation division senior director Hishamuddin Hashim confirmed the probe and raids when contacted.
The controversial 1BestariNet project, initiated in 2011 by Muhyiddin Yassin as the education minister then, had been awarded to YTL Communications.
The mega project, designed to provide connectivity and a learning platform for teachers, students and parents, was often criticised for poor internet service.
In 2019, then education minister Maszlee Malik decided not to extend YTL Communications’s contract.
He said the decision was based on several in-depth studies conducted by independent and professional bodies with authority on the matter, including the auditor-general and the Public Accounts Committee.
He also claimed Muhyiddin had pushed then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his (Maszlee’s) resignation as education minister over YTL Communications’s contract.
Update
Maszlee : Muhyiddin Pushed For My Resignation Over YTL 1BestariNet RM 3 Billion Contract4 September, 2024
Maszlee Malik claims that Muhyiddin Yassin pushed then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his resignation as education minister over a contract issue involving YTL Communications Sdn Bhd.
In his newly released book titled “Memori Bukan Memoir”, Maszlee said he was called five times to meet Mahathir over the matter.
In two of those meetings, the top leadership of the education ministry joined him to explain the decision not to extend YTL’s contract as a service provider for the 1BestariNet project, which Muhyiddin initiated in 2011 when he was education minister.
“I’m often asked whether the seventh prime minister’s (Mahathir) request for me to return my position to him was due to the 1BestariNet issue, or more specifically, YTL’s controversial contract with the education ministry.
“I cannot say that this is the only reason, but I can say that it was one of the reasons that the prime minister asked me to do so, and according to him, following the request of the Bersatu president (Muhyiddin).
“In my last meeting with Mahathir, I can still remember, he said, ‘The Bersatu president is very angry with you because of this issue’.
“Not long after that, I received an email from him requesting me to return the position which was entrusted to me in June 2018 back to him,” said the Simpang Renggam MP.
Pressure to extend ‘based on YTL’s wishes’
Maszlee added that he was told at each meeting how Muhyiddin had worked on the “mega contract” and urged Mahathir to ask him to extend the contract based on YTL’s wishes, rather than deciding on his own.
“As one who bore responsibility based on the oath I took before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when I was sworn in as a Cabinet member, I was determined to place the people and nation’s interests over any other parties or individuals.”
Maszlee was appointed to the post in place of Mahathir after the then prime minister garnered criticism for naming himself to the education portfolio following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 2018 general election.
On Jan 2, 2020, Maszlee announced his resignation, saying he was returning his post back to Mahathir, while pledging loyalty to the then Bersatu chairman.
RM3 billion 1BestariNet contracts
Phase 1 of the 1BestariNet mega project – to provide internet connectivity and a single learning platform for teachers, students and parents – began in December 2011 and went on until June 2014 in a RM1.1 billion contract, while “interim Phase 1” proceeded for two years from June 2014 in a RM468 million contract.
It then continued to Phase 2 in a RM1.55 billion contract, from July 2016 to June 2019.
Maszlee said the project launched by the Barisan Nasional government was controversial and had been often criticised by teachers who complained of lousy internet service that only burdened them.
Contract not extended
He also said the decision not to extend YTL’s contract was based on several in-depth studies conducted by independent and professional bodies with authority on the matter, including the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee.
The decision was made based on how the project did not achieve Putrajaya’s objectives and key performance index. Issues had also risen over the lease of land for 1BestariNet’s integrated system structures.
Maszlee maintained that the ministry’s decision was a professional one based on facts and legislation, adding that he was confident about sticking to his principles despite the costly price he had to pay.
“It was a small test of my sacrifice since the very first day that I decided to get involved in politics.
“Was this decision the cause for me being asked to relinquish my position in the education ministry? Only God knows the truth.”
Source : FMT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4, 2024: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is piling the pressure on the racist and unpatriotic former backdoor prime minister, Muhyiddin “I Am Malay First” Yassin.
The controversial RM4 billion project, now defunct, was initiated in 2011 by the then education minister Muhyiddin.
The MACC raided the office of YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of YTL Corp, in Kuala Lumpur today after launching an investigation into the now-defunct RM4 billion 1BestariNet project.
For image info, go to https://www.gettyimages.no/detail/news-photo/francis-yeoh-sock-ping-managing-director-of-ytl-corp-speaks-news-photo/94889461?adppopup=true
YTL Corp is an international corporation controlled by multi-billionaire Francis Yeoh Sock Ping.
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the MACC probe:
MACC raids YTL Communications in probe on 1BestariNet project
-04 Sep 2024, 04:44 PM
Graft busters also raid a government office in its probe on the controversial project initiated in 2011 by the then education minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
MACC investigation division senior director Hishamuddin Hashim confirmed the probe and raids.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raided YTL Communications Sdn Bhd’s office in Kuala Lumpur today as part of an investigation into the now-defunct RM4 billion 1BestariNet project.
An MACC source said a government office was also raided today.
“Several documents were seized in the raids and MACC is identifying the witnesses who will be summoned to give statements to assist in the probe.
The investigation is focussed on the submission of claims with false details, involving the payment of about RM2.7 billion, said the source.
The source said MACC would also investigate elements of other crimes in the project under the MACC Act 2009.
MACC investigation division senior director Hishamuddin Hashim confirmed the probe and raids when contacted.
FMT has also reached out to YTL Corporation Bhd for comment.
The controversial 1BestariNet project, initiated in 2011 by Muhyiddin Yassin as the education minister then, had been awarded to YTL Communications.
Phase 1 of the mega project – to provide internet connectivity and a single learning platform for teachers, students and parents – began in December 2011 and went on until June 2014 under a RM1.1 billion contract.
In addition, an interim Phase 1 project proceeded for two years from June 2014 under a RM468 million contract.
It then continued to Phase 2 under a RM1.55 billion contract, from July 2016 to June 2019.
In 2019, then education minister Maszlee Malik decided not to extend YTL Communications’s contract.
Two years later, Maszlee claimed that Muhyiddin had pushed then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his (Maszlee’s) resignation as education minister over the YTL Communications’s contract.
He said he was asked to meet Mahathir five times over the matter and that two people in the education ministry’s top leadership had joined him to explain why they opted not to extend YTL Communications’s contract.
Maszlee had also said the decision not to extend YTL’s contract was based on several in-depth studies conducted by independent and professional bodies with authority on the matter, including the auditor-general and the Public Accounts Committee.
MACC investigates payment claims for 1BestariNet tender to YTL Communications
Wednesday, 04 Sep 2024
6:12 PM MYT
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has started an investigation into payment claims for the Education Ministry’s 1BestariNet service tender worth RM4bil which was awarded to YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YTL) in 2011.
According to sources, the MACC raided government offices and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd office in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (Sept 4).
"As a result of the search, a number of documents have been seized and the MACC is identifying witnesses to assist in the investigation.
"The investigation led to the submission of a claim document containing false details involving the payment of approximately RM2.7bil," he said.
Sources said that the focus of the MACC investigation is also aimed at other criminal elements that are subject to the MACC Act 2009.
Meanwhile, MACC Investigation Division senior director, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim when contacted by an online portal confirmed that the case was investigated under section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.
He also called on all parties to give the MACC space and time to carry out the investigation without any interference. - The Star
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