'I have nothing to hide' says Hishammuddin over Mindef land swaps

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pictured) has welcomed the findings from the Governance, Procurement and Finance Investigating Committee over the 16 land swap projects under the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) which allegedly led to losses of RM500 million.

"I have always been consistent since before and never held back, I have nothing to hide," he said in a statement today. 

*Army's strategic importance, safety ignored in land swaps, says Mindef

*Mindef land swaps used to boost voter base for Hishammuddin, Zahid Hamidi

He welcomed any investigation into all defence ministers "since 1997, according to the rule of law".

At Putrajaya this morning, Mindef special functions officer Mohd Nasasie Ismail said Hishammuddin and former Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had been ministers in office during the alleged transactions.

The land swaps reported by Mindef to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission today were those related to the development of two army bases.

The first was in Paloh, which is located in Hishammuddin's parlimentary constituency of Semberong, Johor. The second, namely the Hutan Lintang base, is in the parliamentary consituency of Bagan Datuk, Perak, which Ahmad Zahid represents.

Nasasie said the land swaps had been used to boost votes for both politicians. — theedgemarkets.com

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