KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has begun investigations into corruption allegations implicating two executives of AirAsia Bhd and European aircraft maker Airbus.
MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya today confirmed that the graft-buster was in touch with authorities in the United Kingdom, and was already probing the corruption allegations.
“Under the MACC Act we are empowered, and have jurisdiction to investigate any act of corruption committed by any Malaysian citizen or permanent resident in any place outside Malaysia,” she said in a statement today.
British daily The Telegraph today reported that two “key decision makers” in AirAsia and AirAsia X had been named in legal documents listing instances of bribery by Airbus.
It said that Airbus had paid US$50 million (RM205 million) and offered US$55 million (RM225 million) more to sponsor a sports team linked to two unnamed executives from the airlines.
“The airlines ordered 180 aircraft from Airbus, with the executives described as being ‘rewarded in respect of aircraft order’ which the document said was ‘secured by way of improper payments’,” they reported.