MACC mum over property firm in RM30 mil Covid-19 contract scandal

By Emmanuel Samarathisa

A well-placed official with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has turned down requests to confirm that Khazanah Jaya Sdn Bhd was among the companies being investigated over an RM30 mil contract to supply mass testing laboratory systems to the Ministry of Health (MoH). 

The little-known property firm first surfaced in former newsman Datuk Kadir Jasin’s Facebook posting today. Also, documents dated April 6 detail the tender awarded to Khazanah Jaya bearing the ministry’s letterhead and signed off by MoH secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min.

When asked by FocusM on the authenticity of these claims, including the documents, the MACC official said he could not provide any comment as investigations were still ongoing. 

A spokesperson for Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said an update would be provided when he received a response from the minister.

Company filings show that Khazanah Jaya’s directors are Tan Book Keong and Tan Jiat Jui. Both equally own the company with a 50% stake each. Its latest financials date 2016 with a net loss of RM4.75 mil with negative total equity of RM310,269 while its current liabilities stack up to RM111.63 mil against current assets of RM96.63 mil. 

On May 4, news portal The Malaysian Insight citing sources reported that the MACC was investigating a company over the contract

This came after former Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong tweeted that the Health Ministry must come clean on a contract which had been awarded for the supply of laboratory mitigation systems for mass testing and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.

Wee claimed the contract was worth “tens of million” and a huge amount of money was paid upfront. 

Dr Adham also said in a statement that day that the ministry would cooperate with the MACC on the investigation.

“The ministry will also support the MACC’s efforts to curb corruption and embezzlement. We will continue to work with the MACC,” he said. – May 6, 2020

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