KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a former Army chief, along with his two wives and two other individuals, as part of an investigation into alleged corruption involving army procurement tenders.
The arrests took place around 7 pm after the individuals voluntarily appeared at the MACC headquarters to provide statements, Bernama reported.
This action follows the earlier detention of another married couple, also linked to the case.
Confirming the arrests, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki told Bernama that the five individuals are being held in connection with the ongoing probe into corruption in military procurement.
“We expect to apply for remand orders for the former army chief and his two wives tomorrow. The couple detained yesterday have already been remanded for seven days,” Azam said.
The arrests are part of a broader investigation that began after Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin placed the Army Chief on leave pending the outcome of the inquiry.
As a result, Lt Gen Datuk Azhan Md Othman was appointed as the 31st Malaysian Army Chief, effective January 1. His appointment came amid the expanding investigation into military procurement practices.
On December 23, MACC widened the scope of its probe to include the Ministry of Defence, scrutinising projects awarded through open tenders and managed by the Army Responsibility Centre. The investigation has also led to a five-day remand order for 17 company directors suspected of being part of a cartel involved in army procurement tenders.
Earlier, the former Army chief was seen arriving at MACC headquarters in the afternoon, reportedly to assist with the investigation into alleged irregularities in military procurement. Accompanied by several individuals, he arrived at 3.10 pm in a white car before entering the building.
The investigation has intensified following claims that large sums of money were transferred into the bank accounts of the former army chief and his family members, allegedly from companies awarded military contracts.
MACC’s inquiry now extends to 26 companies suspected of involvement in the procurement scheme. The investigation particularly focuses on firms that have repeatedly secured significant defence contracts since 2023.
The probe also includes an examination of projects awarded through open tender processes by the Ministry of Defence, as well as those under the Malaysian Army’s Pusat Tanggungjawab (PTJ). – January 7, 2026