We’ll probe ministry’s overspending if there’s a complaint, says MACC

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will investigate the RM2.1 billion over-expenditure by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s rural and regional development ministry if a formal complaint is lodged.

MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman said he only heard about the matter through media reports, and a formal complaint had yet to be filed.

“There’s nothing official yet, so I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment. Once the matter is officially reported to us, we will certainly step in (to investigate),” he said, according to Bernama.

The Treasury previously revealed that Zahid’s ministry consistently exceeded its approved allocation for rural road projects in recent years, with RM1.8 billion spent in 2023 against an approved allocation of RM1.1 billion, RM2 billion in 2024 against RM1.3 billion, and RM2.3 billion in 2025 against RM1.6 billion.

This came after Zahid said contractors under his ministry were still waiting to be paid despite completing their work and meeting the required project milestones, with some forced to shut down.

This triggered an exchange of barbs before Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered the finance and rural and regional development ministries to discuss and settle the issue amicably.

Yesterday, DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng urged MACC to investigate the over-expenditure, comparing it to how the Universiti Teknologi Mara management approved a RM260 million injection for UiTM Holdings Sdn Bhd without the finance minister’s approval.

Earlier today, Treasury deputy secretary general (policy) Zamzuri Abdul Aziz said the matter had been resolved, although he did not elaborate on the solution.