The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has yet to receive any formal complaint over allegations that the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) exceeded its approved allocations by a cumulative RM2.1 billion, according to Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman.
Abd Halim said the anti-graft agency had so far only learned of the matter through media reports and therefore did not consider it appropriate to comment further at this stage.
“We have only read about it through the media. There has not been anything official yet,” he told reporters after MACC’s 59th anniversary celebration and monthly assembly.
He added that MACC would look into the matter should a formal complaint be lodged.
The issue resurfaced after DAP adviser and Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng urged MACC to investigate the alleged overspending. Lim cited Finance Ministry figures showing KKDW expenditure of RM1.8 billion in 2023 against an approved RM1.1 billion, RM2.0 billion in 2024 against RM1.3 billion, and RM2.3 billion in 2025 against RM1.6 billion — a cumulative difference of RM2.1 billion over the three years.
Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican had earlier said KKDW had made commitments and spent beyond its annual approved allocations for rural road projects over several years. He also said the Finance Ministry had approved an additional RM300 million in 2026 to help settle outstanding payments to contractors and was identifying savings from other ministries to address the excess commitments.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, later said KKDW would not spend beyond allocations approved by the government and that ministry expenditure was based on budgeted or otherwise approved amounts.
