Issues, scandals within MAF will be investigated internally: Mohamad Sabu

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry will conduct its own internal investigations and audits on issues and scandals related to defence spending by the previous administration, says Mohamad Sabu.
Speaking during his first day on duty at Wisma Pertahanan here after being sworn in as the defence minister, the Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president stressed that he did not want to act on hearsay.
Mohamad, or better known as Mat Sabu, said he has to obtain more information first from all branches of the armed forces before making a decision on the issues, including Malaysia's purchase of Scorpene submarines, as well as other issues which were raised by non-governmental organisations.
"We will not act on hearsay and we will have our own internal audits from time to time.
"We will have an internal investigation if there is something for us to look into. If the matter is serious, then we can bring it up to the Cabinet," he said.
On the setting up of the King Salman Centre for International Peace, he said he would discuss it with the prime minister before a decision is made.
Mat Sabu, who is also Kota Raja MP, stressed that action would only be taken based on evidence.
Meanwhile, speaking on his new role, he said he is still getting used to managing an entire ministry under the new government.
He said that he would spend his first week in office on briefings on military and administrative issues.
Earlier, he inspected a guard-of-honour comprising three officers and 103 personnel from the Royal Malay Regiment First Battalion, led by Major Juniusabdiah Shah Putra Janny.
Also present were Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi, and other senior ministry officers.