Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Malaysia’s ninth Prime Minister from August 2021 to November 2022, has been linked to several corruption allegations and scandals, though no definitive legal convictions have tied him directly to wrongdoing as of February 26, 2025. Most of the controversies surrounding him stem from his administration’s actions, his aides, and public speculation rather than conclusive evidence against him personally.
One prominent issue is the investigation into the RM700 million spent on government publicity during his tenure. In January 2024, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) questioned Ismail Sabri about these funds, which were tied to the “Keluarga Malaysia” campaign he launched to boost economic recovery post-COVID-19. Critics slammed the expenditure as excessive and potentially misappropriated, with the MACC probing whether it involved misconduct. While Ismail Sabri provided testimony, no charges have been filed against him personally, and the investigation’s outcome remains unclear.
More recently, in February 2025, four of his former aides were detained by MACC over allegations of corruption and money laundering. Reports indicate that over RM100 million in cash—some sources claim up to RM150 million—was seized from the home of one aide, identified in some posts as his former political secretary. This raid, which also uncovered documents, jewelry, and electronic devices, followed months of surveillance and has fueled speculation about the source of the funds, with theories ranging from political financing to kickbacks. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and described the seized amount as “hefty,” but the investigation is ongoing, and no direct link to Ismail Sabri has been officially established. His hospitalization due to high blood pressure around the same time—February 22, 2025—has led some to question whether it was a genuine health issue or a convenient excuse, though medical reports confirm he remains under supervision with a stable but fluctuating condition.
Other allegations from his time as PM include claims of cronyism in government contracts. For instance, a RM266 million tablet supply project under the Keluarga Malaysia initiative and a special quota for 12,000 Bangladeshi workers were flagged by critics as potentially benefiting connected parties. Blogs and opposition voices have suggested his Principal Private Secretary, Dato’ Nor Nazimah Hashim, played a role in steering these deals, but no hard evidence has surfaced, and MACC investigations into such matters have not yet yielded public results implicating Ismail Sabri directly.
His political party, UMNO, has a long history of corruption scandals, most notably the 1MDB fiasco under Najib Razak, which ousted UMNO from power in 2018. Ismail Sabri’s rise to the premiership in 2021 marked UMNO’s return, but his administration inherited a fragile coalition and public skepticism. While some observers, like PKR’s Wong Chen, have noted that Ismail Sabri himself was not widely seen as personally corrupt—unlike his predecessor Muhyiddin Yassin—his reliance on advisers and coalition dynamics left room for questionable dealings under his watch.
Public sentiment, especially on platforms like X, reflects frustration and suspicion, with users questioning how aides amassed such wealth and why Ismail Sabri hasn’t faced stronger scrutiny. However, as of now, the scandals remain tied to his associates or unproven claims rather than confirmed charges against him. The lack of conclusive legal action suggests either insufficient evidence or a slow-moving investigative process, common in Malaysia’s complex political landscape. Still, these events have cemented a narrative of controversy around his short 15-month tenure, even if the full story remains unresolved.
Source : Sinar Harian Wordpess
The Coverage Malaysia
