Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who oversees the government Bumiputera empowerment agency, said the initiative was on top of a separate and ongoing investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that is being carried out, both in Malaysia and in Australia.

“At the same time, apart from MACC, Mara will also write a letter to the Auditor-General to carry out a forensic audit on anything that has to do with Mara Inc.

“So believe me we won’t protect anyone because MACC is carrying out an investigation. We give them the power to carry out the investigation and at the same time the Auditor-General also has a forensic audit,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat here.

Sabri said MACC has interviewed just about all the witnesses in Malaysia and will proceed to interview witnesses in Australia next.

“Externally, we have handed over the documents to MACC and it is investigating. And I’ve been informed by MACC that they’re almost done with the local investigation. After this, they will go overseas for interviews.

“They will carry out investigation like a forensic audit.”

Two Mara Inc executives, chairman Mohamad Lan Allani and chief executive Abd Halim Rahim, were suspended last July following reports of the scandal, which reportedly saw the Bumiputera empowerment agency overpaying for properties in Australia.

On July 2, Mara chairman Annuar Musa said Mohamad Lan and Abdul Halim will be relieved of their duties pending investigation into the case, but stressed that they have not been found guilty yet.

He also revealed that the federal agency would appoint international accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an audit of Mara Inc’s investments not just in Australia, but the UK as well.