No case, says MACC after DBKL's internal probe into pro-Anwar artiste over production jobs

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has cleared actor and director Afdlin Shauki of allegations that placed him at the centre of multi-million ringgit projects for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the agency under the Prime Minister's Department.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said its scrutiny of documents provided by DBKL found no wrongdoing by Afdlin.

"After reviewing the documents provided by DBKL on Feb 7, 2025, it was found that there were no criminal elements in the execution of the RM4 million DBKL studio and radio content production and broadcasting projects," Azam told MalaysiaNow.

However, Azam said MACC had found "several weaknesses" in relation to procurement guidelines, adding that it was still investigating issues relating to governance as well as payments to certain parties.

The decision is likely to spark further criticism of the anti-graft body, which had already come under fire for allowing DBKL to conduct its own internal investigations into the allegations.

Critics had pointed out that the move was unlike how MACC had previously detained municipal council officers accused of graft without waiting for internal investigations.

Azam had said the case would be referred to MACC if DBKL's investigation found elements of corruption or abuse of power, adding that MACC integrity officers seconded to DBKL were also involved in the probe.

"If elements of corruption or abuse of power are found under the MACC Act 2009, MACC will conduct an investigation," he had told MalaysiaNow early this month.

The allegations against Afdlin first surfaced on Edisi Siasat, a hugely popular Telegram channel specialised in corruption exposes involving government agencies and people in authority.

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.

It said that the projects were known to Anwar's political secretary Azman Abidin, a claim the latter has denied.

It also said the Sports and Welfare Club under Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (KSKYWP), a company under the Federal Territories Department of the Prime Minister's Department, 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.

Afdlin responded to the allegations by saying he was the target of a "jealousy-driven agenda".

"This is an attempt by irresponsible parties to tarnish my name. Their agenda is only fuelled by envy and misplaced revenge," said Afdlin, who is among a handful entertainment industry figures to have joined Anwar's PKR.