1Bestari Net misappropriation, police report filed against Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR - A police report has been filed against PN Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin regarding the alleged misappropriation of the 1Bestari Net project carried out by YTL Corporation Berhad (YTL).

Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia (MKM) Chairman Uzair Mohamad Fadzli said the project was implemented during Muhyiddin's tenure as the Education Minister.

He said MKM felt compelled to file a police report after the Malaysia World News portal reported on the alleged misappropriation case.

"The news revealed that the 1Bestari Net project had failed to achieve its objectives despite billions of ringgit being paid to YTL.

"Payments for the project were previously reported by the Education Ministry in 2019 and in the National Audit Report for the year 2013.

"Moreover, referring to the submissions made by an individual known as Datuk Lokman Adam on Application X, formerly known as Twitter, it has exposed the issue of misappropriation within the project," he said in a press conference on Friday after filing a police report on the matter at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters.

Uzair added that the 1Bestari Net project had incurred costs of RM4.6 billion, significantly higher than the industry-estimated cost of RM1 billion.

He said the revelations from the news portal report indicated that YTL had erected utility poles on government-owned land without paying utility charges and site rent.

As a result of this action, Uzair explained, the government suffered losses worth millions of ringgit.

Uzair said that based on these revelations, MKM believes that the 1Bestari Net project violated government procurement procedures and governance due to the misappropriation.

Furthermore, he stated that there is a possibility of abuse of power by those who approved the project in 2012.

In light of this, he said that MKM decided to come forward to file a police report against Muhyiddin because they believed there was an abuse of power and a misappropriation issue involving public interest and significant national funds.

"We demand that a police investigation be initiated against Muhyiddin and strict legal action be taken against him.

"MKM will file police reports in 14 states across the country over the 1Bestari Net misappropriation allegations," he said.