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Work of jealous people, says pro-Anwar artist as MACC waits out DBKL's self-probe into contracts scandal

Afdlin Shauki denies allegations involving DBKL projects worth millions, while MACC's Azam Baki says it will wait the outcome of an internal probe.

MalaysiaNow
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Actor and director Afdlin Shauki was appointed a board member of DBKL months after Anwar Ibrahim took power.
Actor and director Afdlin Shauki was appointed a board member of DBKL months after Anwar Ibrahim took power.

A staunch supporter of Anwar Ibrahim has claimed that he is the target of "jealousy-driven agenda" following allegations placing him at the centre of multi-million ringgit projects for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the agency under the Prime Minister's Department.

Actor and director Afdlin Shauki, among a handful entertainment industry figures to have joined Anwar's PKR, declined to comment further on the allegations posted on a highly popular Telegram channel, and said he would allow DBKL to continue its internal investigation.

"This is an attempt by irresponsible parties to tarnish my name. Their agenda is only fuelled by envy and misplaced revenge," Afdlin, who was appointed to DBKL board months after Anwar came to power, said in a statement.

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In the meantime, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) decided not to open an investigation pending the completion of the internal probe.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the commission "would be referred to" if the internal investigation found elements of corruption or abuse of power.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.

"For now, the decision is that we will first let DBKL conduct an internal investigation through its integrity unit and other units," Azam told Astro Awani.

This was despite the Kuala Lumpur mayor reportedly confirming that she had cancelled a problematic RM7 million project linked to a DBKL board member.

MalaysiaNow's efforts to get an explanation from Azam were in vain.

The allegations first surfaced in a post shared by Edisi Siasat, the hugely popular Telegram channel that specialises in exposing corruption and power abuse allegedly committed by government agencies and people in authority.

It accused Afdlin of being among those involved in procuring lucrative contents production contracts from DBKL said to be worth more than RM10 million, reigniting a debate on City Hall's transparency and accountability.

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Just a month after taking office, Anwar set up a new Federal Territories Department, placing DBKL under the watch of his Prime Minister's Department.

A minister in charge was not appointed until a year later, following a Cabinet reshuffle that saw Dr Zaliha Mustafa relieved of her duties as health minister.

The  Telegram post alleged that Afdlin had breached procedures in a RM7 million radio station project, before it was axed by Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif.

Maimunah, who announced an internal investigation into the allegations, confirmed that she had halted a RM7 million project when she took office last year, citing high costs and breaches of procurement procedures.

The post, purportedly written by City Hall staff, also said that the projects were known to Anwar's political secretary Azman Abidin, a claim the latter has denied.

It said the Sports and Welfare Club under Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (KSKYWP), a company under the FT ministry, had channeled a RM4 million contract from DBKL for the production of creative materials to a company owned by a "crony".

It claimed that the contract for the production of videos for the "Friends of DBKL" TikTok channel did not go through proper tender processes, adding that a prominent podcaster still owed City Hall more than 100 clips.

The post attached screenshots of an agreement signed by KSKYWP, DBKL and Afdlin, which included a breakdown of the amounts charged to DBKL for the production of 43 short clips, live programmes, news and podcasts worth between RM3,000 and RM10,000 each.

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Meanwhile, Afdlin said in his statement that he would fully cooperate with any investigations into the matter, adding that he had also lodged a police report.

"The malicious lies and slander should not be allowed to spread.

"I am convinced that by the will of Almighty Allah, the truth will eventually come out and justice will be served," he said.