MACC said it had decided to look into the project following a report by the committee on governance, procurement and finance investigation, released in August, and the findings by the Public Accounts Committee.

In a statement, it said these two reports highlighted several weaknesses, including low broadband coverage, inadequate infrastructures and poor broadband access in schools.

“Public information and complaints indicated that the project failed to deliver the required broadband speeds for effective learning,” it said.

MACC said the project’s duration was reduced from 15 years to seven and half years without reducing the contract’s value, and there are ongoing claims and potential losses that need to be investigated further.

“So the issue of why MACC is probing the matter now despite the project ending in 2019 does not arise as it is our responsibility to investigate upon receiving new information, especially when it comes to government funds,” it said.

“As such we hope that the public will refrain from speculating on the matter, as corruption, misappropriation and abuse of power are issues on which we cannot compromise.”

On Wednesday, it was reported that MACC had raided YTL Communication’s Kuala Lumpur office and a government office as part of an investigation into the payment claims related to the 1BestariNet service tender.

An MACC source said the investigation is centred on claims involving false details related to RM2.7 billion in payments, as well as other criminal elements under the MACC Act 2009.