'Nothing to hide': Hisham says RM500m Mindef losses a distraction

Former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein has welcomed investigations into him and others who have held the portfolio over allegations that land swap deals by the ministry had resulted in over RM500 million in losses.

"I have nothing to hide," Hishammuddin said in a Facebook post today.

However, the Sembrong MP said the findings regarding the losses were just a distraction from the Pakatan Harapan government's lack of leadership.

"It is not a secret that the Harapan government’s main aim is to dig up as much as they can to find faults with the previous government, instead of running the government.

"These findings are merely a distraction for the rakyat from the fact that they are not performing at all. I must repeat yet again – it is time for the (defence) minister to take the lead.

"It is time for them to take care of our armed forces and their families, it is time for them to care for the welfare of our military veterans who have served to protect the nation. Enough is enough," he said.

The land swap deals involve 16 projects dating back to 1997.

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu claimed that some of these land swaps were made for the gain of politicians.

This includes the building of the Paloh military base, which is located in Hishammuddin's Sembrong constituency.

Besides Hishammuddin, others who have held the defence portfolio since 1997 are Syed Hamid Albar, Najib Abdul Razak, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.