“This investigation will take time as we need to visit many places, especially since this case involves 8,000 schools.
“So, you can imagine, this is an investigation that will take some time,” MACC chief Azam Baki told reporters after attending the national-level third Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Research Conference at a hotel in Bangi today.
Azam said MACC officers are looking into two main issues – the quality of the services provided to schools, and instances where data was not supplied to schools despite claims made.
“There is an issue of data provision (to schools). So, we need to examine this as it constitutes an offence if there is a request but no supply (is provided),” he said.
He said all concerns raised by multiple parties regarding 1BestariNet are being taken seriously.
Earlier this month, it was reported that MACC raided YTL Communications’ Kuala Lumpur office and a government office as part of an investigation into 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.
However, YTL Communications’ parent company, YTL Power International Bhd, has maintained that the project, which ended on June 30, 2019, was certified by the education ministry as successfully completed at the end of the contract period.
The 1BestariNet project, initiated in 2011 by then education minister Muhyiddin Yassin, 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.
On a separate matter, Azam said MACC is also focusing its investigations on a Bangladeshi-owned local company suspected of being involved in a syndicate smuggling in foreigners using the counter setting method.
On Monday, MACC said it arrested a Bangladeshi company director believed to be a syndicate agent tasked with bribing enforcement officials to allow foreigners into the country illegally.
“We are gathering evidence from the company’s accounts to determine if payments were made to any authorities,” Azam said, adding that the company does not have a proper system of tracking the individuals brought into the country through tourist visas.