KOTA TINGGI: The Defence Ministry will fully cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), until the investigation into the procurement cartel case, involving construction work worth more than RM9mil at a Royal Malaysian Navy camp in Johor, is completed.

       Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said he hoped that appropriate action would be taken against those involved, to serve as a lesson to all parties.

       “There is an investigation. Let the MACC investigate so that the appropriate actions can be taken.

       “As Defence Minister, I welcome and will cooperate with the MACC, and I hope this will serve as a lesson so that approved government projects reach their targets,” he told reporters, after officiating the Sedili Kota Tinggi Madani Community Carnival, at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sedili Besar, here on Saturday (Jan 20).

       He said this when asked about three individuals who were remanded to assist in the investigation into the procurement cartel case.

       On Friday (Jan 19), the three men, aged 28 to 47, who are believed to be the masterminds of the procurement cartel involving construction work at the Navy camp in the state, were remanded to enable an investigation under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009.

       The three men were arrested by the Johor MACC at 6pm on Thursday (Jan 18), after they were believed to have made false claims and were the masterminds of the cartel, involving 13 supplier companies which manage construction work at the camp.

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       Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled, who is also the Kota Tinggi MP, said that the construction of four Malaysian Armed Forces polyclinics - in Kluang, Johor; Seberang Takir, Terengganu, Sungai Petani, Kedah; and Kuantan, Pahang - will be implemented this year.

       “The polyclinics will be built this year; now we are making specifications and will open for tenders,” he said when asked about the progress regarding the construction of the polyclinics.

       Previously, Mohamed Khaled reportedly said that he would focus on the welfare of members and ex-servicemen by improving the Armed Forces' health services this year.

       Apart from the construction of the four polyclinics, the Armed Forces’ health services will also be strengthened with Health IT Systems in each Armed Forces Hospital, as well as Specialist Outreach Clinics and Mental Health Programmes.- Bernama