KUALA LUMPUR: A former Malaysian army chief and his wife were charged on Thursday with money laundering, part of a sweeping corruption investigation into military procurement contracts, authorities said.
Read More: Malaysian former army chief and family held in corruption probe
Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, 57, and his wife Salwani Anuar, 26, pleaded not guilty to allegations that they received hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit payments. Prosecutors allege that Hafizuddeain received 2.122 million ringgit ($524,892) between February 2024 and November 2025 through his bank accounts, while Salwani allegedly received 77,000 ringgit via a company she controlled.
[IN PIC] A former army chief and his wife were charged today with alleged corruption linked to procurements under the Defence Ministry.
PICS BY: NSTP/ASWADI ALIAS AND BERNAMA pic.twitter.com/9Phxikfo51
— New Straits Times (@NST_Online) January 22, 2026
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched the probe following multiple allegations of kickbacks involving senior military officers. Hafizuddeain was placed on immediate leave in December 2025 and retired on January 1, 2026. The investigation has led to raids on several companies and the freezing of bank accounts linked to the couple, as well as the arrest of several other top military officers.
Both Hafizuddeain and Salwani were released on bail but have been ordered to surrender their passports and report to the MACC monthly while the case is ongoing. The charges are part of broader efforts by Malaysian authorities to root out corruption in the defence sector, which has recently faced scrutiny over alleged irregularities in procurement deals.
Read More: Govt plans 600 MHz spectrum auction in Feb, opening doors for 5G
The case highlights growing concerns about transparency and accountability within the country’s military establishment, and observers say the outcome could have wider implications for anti-graft initiatives in Malaysia.