BANGI: Investigations into the RM4.07bil 1BestariNet service tender involving the Education Ministry may include the possibility of false claims being made, says Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki (pic).

“There were instances where the supply was said to have been made when in fact, it was not done.

“We have to look into this as under the law, if claims are made and supply is not furnished, in principle this is a crime,” Azam told reporters after the launching of the 3rd National Research Conference on Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption here yesterday.

He said the investigation will have to determine if the schools were supplied with the deliverables as specified under the contract.

He added that the claims were made following the signing of the contract to implement the 1BestariNet project.

The 1BestariNet project was launched by the government in 2011 with YTL Communications Sdn Bhd engaged to provide high-speed Internet access to schools involving a virtual learning system for students.

The project included implementing the Frog Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), a cloud-based learning platform.

However, the project ran into problems.

On Sept 4, YTL Communications, a YTL Power International Bhd subsidiary, said it was giving its full cooperation to the MACC over the 1BestariNet project.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the group clarified that 1BestariNet was awarded to YTL Communications in 2011 by the Education Ministry through an open tender process involving 19 companies.

Meanwhile, Azam said MACC’s probe into 1BestariNet will take time to complete as it involves investigators visiting some 8,000 schools nationwide to determine if the required data for the system had been supplied to them.

Besides this angle, Azam said MACC is also looking at the quality of services provided to schools under the project and whether or not there good governance was observed.

Asked if elements of corruption had been detected, Azam said it was too early to comment.

“I cannot make any conclusions when investigations are ongoing as it would not be fair to the parties involved,” he said.

Azam also said MACC will not get involved in the probe against Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB).

Owing to the nature of the alleged offences, he said that investigations came under the jurisdiction of the police and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

“The issues involve children, money laundering and deviant teachings, among others,” he added.

On Sept 18, Azam said MACC had not found any element of corruption in the GISB case so far.

On Sept 11, police rescued 402 children, comprising 201 boys and 201 girls, aged between one and 17, from 20 GISB-linked care homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan in an operation codenamed Ops Global.

There were allegations that the children were abused, exploited, and sexually assaulted.

Apart from police investigations, the group is also currently under probe for deviant teachings.

Meanwhile, Azam announced that only construction companies with ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) certification will be allowed to bid for government contracts worth more than RM100mil.

He said this requirement will come into force in 2026 for Class G7 construction companies registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) when bidding for government contracts.

“This will reflect the companies determination in eliminating corruption when bidding for tenders under the Finance Ministry,” he added.

The ABMS is geared towards helping companies detect and prevent including responding to incidences of bribery.

It also encompass compliance with relevant laws and regulations including voluntary commitments aimed at weeding out corruption.

Azam said that a two-year grace period is to allow affected companies to make the necessary arrangements to get the required certification.

“At the moment, these construction companies can still bid for the government contracts.

“But they will not be allowed to participate in bidding for projects with the Finance Ministry if they do not have the ABMS after the two-year period. That is the condition,” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/27/macc-probing-claims-made-over-1bestarinet