FORMER defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein is at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters to give his statement on the ministry’s controversial land swaps.

He arrived at 11am, and was quickly ushered into the building by officers.

Before entering the headquarters, Hishammuddin told the media that he will cooperate with graft-busters in their investigation.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki on Friday said former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also held the defence portfolio, has had his statement on the issue recorded.

He did not rule out the possibility of former prime minister Najib Razak being called up for questioning.

“We are still collecting evidence and taking statements from the others… we will call him (Najib) up when it is appropriate,” he told reporters after a press conference on updates in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd case.

In February, the ministry revealed that Putrajaya had lost more than RM500 million in land swaps since 1997.

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu had said the losses were discovered by an audit committee chaired by former auditor-general Ambrin Buang.

It was reported that 16 land-swap deals were carried out by the ministry, involving up to 1,183ha.

The land, at various camps in Bukit Kinrara, Hutan Melintang, Bera, Segamat and Paloh, was reportedly worth RM4.8 billion, while the cost of the projects was pegged at RM4.9 billion. – June 23, 2019.