“This stern instruction comes from my previous direction to the national audit department to audit 2,000 government-linked companies in order to create a better system of governance and ensure all the companies in question fulfil their responsibilities and functions,” he said in a post on X today.

Earlier, Anwar was reported as saying he will not block or interfere with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation into Khazanah.

Anwar said at an event at the PICCA Convention Centre at Butterworth Arena in Penang today the investigations must be done fairly regardless of rank and position, or whether the companies involved are privately owned or not.

“I will not hinder investigations if reports are made. If it’s wrong, investigate, prosecute and punish,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

According to MACC chief Azam Baki, MACC had started an investigation into the RM43.9 million loss by Khazanah and PNB, after the finance ministry said the two companies obtained RM3.1 million from selling their shares in the e-commerce fashion platform to NXBT Partners last year.

The two companies had invested RM47 million – RM27 million and RM20 million, respectively – for a minority stake in Fashion Valet in 2018.