LEGAL action will be taken against retired civil servants who had committed wrongdoing in government projects, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We will lodge a report, and legal action will be taken,” said the prime minister in Putrajaya today.

“It is our intention to lodge reports on wrongdoings… (action can be taken even if) the wrongdoing was committed in the past, or if the wrongdoer is no longer here.”

The Malaysian Insight today reported that a special audit report on the Defence Ministry’s land swaps called on the government to investigate former ministry officers.

The report, prepared by former auditor-general Ambrin Buang, named former army chief Raja Mohamad Affandi Raja Mohamad Noor, retired ministry chief secretary Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi and former deputy secretary Zaiton Johar as those who had instructed a developer to start a project before the contract was signed.

The deal was for the development of military facilities in Sendayan and Paloh, in exchange for land in Kinrara, Selangor.

Dr Mahathir said he, too, is not above the law, with the audit covering his time in office in 1997, during his first stint as prime minister.

“Police can investigate the prime minister as well. Nobody is above the law.”

The audit report was tabled by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu in the Dewan Negara on Thursday, and can be downloaded from the ministry’s website. – May 14, 2019.