appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Hadi Azmi

Malaysia’s former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was on Monday named as a suspect in a corruption case involving almost US$40 million in cash and gold bars seized from alleged safe houses across the capital.
Ismail Sabri, the nation’s shortest-serving prime minister at just 15 months between August 2021 to November 2022, is the third leader to be implicated in corruption while in office following his predecessors Muhyiddin Yassin and Najib Razak, who were charged and convicted respectively.
The cash, in various currencies including US and Singapore dollars, UAE dirham and Japanese yen, was discovered in three raids at properties linked to the ex-prime minister by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“The discovery of this cash confirms that the [former prime minister] is a suspect in this case,” MACC chief Azam Baki told reporters.
Ismail Sabri had previously been named as a witness, not a suspect.


The commission earlier said its investigation was focused on government publicity expenditure and procurement during the leadership of Ismail Sabri.
Blocks of seized cash and gold bars were displayed on a table in the press conference room, alongside luxury watches and jewellery.
Azam added that Ismail Sabri would be summoned for questioning on Wednesday, pending his health condition.
This is after the former prime minister’s sudden hospitalisation after being found unconscious on February 22, ahead of the arrest of four of his close officers by the MACC.
The commission first questioned Ismail Sabri in January last year as part of an investigation into possible misconduct involving some 700 million ringgit (US$157 million) spent on government publicity during his administration.
A representative for Ismail Sabri did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly vowed to take stern action against corruption, regardless of political affiliation.
On January 8, he reiterated his zero-tolerance stance, stating that he did not compromise on corruption, whether it involved government backbenchers or the opposition.
“I don’t care about their positions or influence because stern action must be taken, and we have already initiated it,” he said as he congratulated the MACC on its bravery at the 2024 National Good Governance Symposium.
Critics, however, accuse Anwar of using corruption charges to silence opponents, including former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and the late ex-finance minister Daim Zainuddin, whom he accused of enriching themselves through their positions.
Mahathir, who has denied the allegations, responded by filing a 150 million ringgit defamation lawsuit against Anwar.
“When Anwar opens his mouth, he lies,” Mahathir wrote on his blog last month.
Additional reporting by Reuters


Southeast Asia supports multilateralism, wary of US or China leadership: survey

Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan royal crisis escalates as chief minister defies ruler

Will Anwar’s coalition in Malaysia implode amid Loke exit, Najib house arrest?

Pending US$12.3 million house arrest fine keeps Malaysia’s Najib in prison

Malaysia

Malaysian ex-PM Ismail Sabri now a suspect in corruption probe

Malaysia’s former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Photo: dpa

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated his zero-tolerance stance on corruption. Photo: EPA-EFE

Questions raised over arrest of Malaysian journalist following trafficking cartel exposé

A man looks at Malaysia Airlines’ aircraft parked on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on February 25, 2016. Photo: AFP 

The Office of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). Photo: Shutterstock 

Malaysia’s ex-PM Ismail Sabri declares wealth to anti-corruption agency

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Photo: dpa

4 aides of Malaysian ex-PM Ismail face corruption probe over US$22.7 million raid

Former Malaysian leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob is an ally of Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: Bernama/dpa

The office of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya. Photo: Shutterstock

Former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin (centre) was cleared of corruption charges before his death last year. Photo: AFP

Malaysia’s Anwar faces heat over ‘absurd’ rules on anti-corruption rally

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has come under fire for imposing restrictions on an anti-corruption rally in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: EPA-EFE

Protesters at an anti-Najib rally in Kuala Lumpur in 2016. Photo: AFP

2 years on, is Anwar’s pledge to eliminate corruption in Malaysia facing a reality check?

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends a welcome ceremony at the Government Palace in Lima, Peru on November 13. Photo: EPA-EFE

Rosmah Mansor, wife of Malaysia’s former leader Najib Razak, leaves Kuala Lumpur High Court in 2020. She was acquitted of over a dozen charges of money laundering and tax evasion. Photo: Reuters

This Week in Asia

Politics

People

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

Nearly US$40 million in cash and gold bars discovered in three raids at properties linked to former prime minister


Nearly US$40 million in cash and gold bars discovered in three raids at properties linked to former prime minister.


Malaysian ex-PM Ismail Sabri now a suspect in corruption probe

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Nearly US$40 million in cash and gold bars discovered in three raids at properties linked to former prime minister

Nearly US$40 million in cash and gold bars discovered in three raids at properties linked to former prime minister