KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 26): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has on Wednesday launched an investigation into allegations that businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing gave bribes to Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, the outgoing senior political secretary to the prime minister.
The announcement came hours after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that MACC was free to investigate the matter without any external interference.
“MACC will summon both the individual making the allegation, Albert Tei, and the individual accused, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar, in the near future to provide their statements,” MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said in a statement.
Other relevant parties may also be called to gather supporting evidence, the agency added. The public was advised not to speculate and to allow MACC the space to conduct its investigation professionally.
Shamsul tendered his resignation on Tuesday following growing public backlash over a support letter he issued in 2024 recommending six contractors for a government hospital project, as reported by several media outlets.
The issue resurfaced during a Dewan Rakyat sitting on Nov 18, when opposition MPs alleged that Shamsul had improperly endorsed the contractors to the Ministry of Health. Anwar then confirmed in the same parliamentary session that he had reprimanded Shamsul for the incident.
The situation further intensified when Malaysiakini reported that Tei — who is facing charges in an unrelated case — claimed he had spent RM629,000 on Shamsul. The alleged expenditures included payments for property renovations, premium cigars and custom suits.
Shamsul has not publicly responded to Tei’s claims.