Zaid Malek of Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), a human rights and law reform non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Malaysia, has stated, “The investigation of former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is a matter of public interest. It is inevitable that members of the public would speculate and participate in discussions surrounding the investigation.”

On this issue, UMNO President and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed hope that justice will prevail in the case involving former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri, similar to Zahid’s own experience.

In line with this hope for justice and fairness, the public expects that the true culprits will be brought to justice. Ismail Sabri and his aides have been implicated in the receipt of illicit funds. Currently, a Chindian Tycoon, known for his reputation as a building contractor and reportedly close to Ismail Sabri, has been questioned regarding the source of approximately RM170 million found in an aide’s possession.

The tycoon, commonly referred to as DJ, has been a confidant of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri and is alleged to be the owner and provider of the funds.

However, the truth is that the money allegedly belongs to another group of Chinese businessmen led by a Buddhist Chindian known as TSKT.

TSKT is said to head a network of corrupt individuals who were closely involved with the administrations of former Prime Ministers Najib Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin, and Ismail Sabri, as well as their respective aides. It is widely known in the construction industry that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TSKT’s conglomerate was forced into early retirement after making a payment of RM30 million to one of Ismail Sabri’s aides without possessing a Letter of Intent or Letter of Agreement. This sum is believed to be part of the funds seized by the MACC during a recent raid.

Among construction firms, it is understood that this payment was made in connection with the MRT project during Ismail Sabri’s tenure. When Ismail Sabri failed to retain his position as Prime Minister, TSKT allegedly made the CEO a scapegoat. One might wonder how such large sums of cash were transacted. A review of records held by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) could provide insight into the scale of the transactions. It is estimated that TSKT’s Currency Transaction Reports (CTR) amount to RM183 million, while his Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) stand at RM113 million.

It is imperative that DJ is not unfairly targeted, while the Buddhist Chindian and his conglomerate, who are allegedly the principal actors behind the massive financial transactions, should be thoroughly investigated for money laundering activities in Malaysia, Dubai, and the United Kingdom.