KUALA LUMPUR – The Defence Ministry’s (MINDEF) Anti-Corruption Plan will undergo a comprehensive revamp this year, as part of efforts to restore public trust and strengthen the integrity and governance of the national defence sector.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that all tender and procurement processes will also be thoroughly reviewed and improved to align with best practices, local media reported.
“MINDEF and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) must combat corruption and abuse of power that has become entrenched in the national defence system,” he said during the Ministry’s New Year address at Wisma Perwira today.
“There will be no tolerance for any form of dishonesty, and be prepared to lose everything if you compromise the security of our sector,” he added.
Khaled Nordin emphasised that corruption deprives Malaysia of valuable assets and poses a threat to the safety of military personnel.
He further stated that corruption leads to wastefulness, inefficiency, and diminishes the effectiveness of the ATM as the nation’s primary defence agency.
“Corruption destroys the integrity of our trained personnel and can hinder our ability to compete as a mid-tier power… due to corruption, there is leakage, and in the end, we are unable to provide the best for our country and our personnel,” he explained.
The minister confirmed that to tackle corruption and abuse of power within the national defence system, the ministry will continue to strengthen the enforcement of regulations and maintain strict discipline.
Meanwhile, for two consecutive days, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has recorded the statement of a senior officer from the Malaysian Armed Forces to assist in investigations concerning the misuse of funds within the force.
On January 8, a former Army Chief was remanded for seven days, while both his wives were detained for six and three days respectively in connection with a corruption investigation involving the Malaysian Army’s procurement tenders.
MACC has also seized gold, a high-performance sports utility vehicle (SUV), foreign currency estimated at RM6.9 million, and 23 Rolex watches valued at approximately RM2 million, all believed to be linked to the investigation.
A senior MAF officer arrived at the MACC headquarters today, believed to be providing further testimony in relation to the corruption case. The officer had previously been questioned for approximately 13 hours the day before.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that investigators still require the officer’s statement to aid the investigation. He added that the officer was allowed to leave around midnight last night, but his questioning will continue today. – January 12, 2026