Gov't publisher surprised over MACC's move, claims innocence

Putrajaya-owned Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books (ITBM) said it has never received any prior indication or notice that MACC wanted to seize its funds.

In a statement today, the agency said the company's representatives had given statements to MACC on three occasions and explained that their dealings with the former prime minister's office were above board.

In 2011, the company had received struck two deals amounting to RM966,000 to print books.

"As a government agency that publishes books, ITBM accepted the (instruction) and fulfilled the client's request based on normal procedures [...] and published the books within the specified deadline," said the company.

The company said the client was the Prime Minister's Office and the Prime Minister's Department and they were unaware of the source of funds used.

Earlier today, ITBM was named among 80 entities or individuals which were issued compound notices by the MACC, in a bid to recover illicit funds allegedly stemming from 1MDB.

In all, the MACC is attempting to recover RM420 million.

ITBM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minister of Finance Incorporated and staffed by Education Ministry personnel and previously known as the Malaysian Translation Institute.

Apart from ITBM, the other surprise in the list was Nazir Abdul Razak, the former chairperson of CIMB.

The MACC is seeking RM25.7 million from Nazir, who is the younger brother to Najib Abdul Razak, the former prime minister currently on trial for money laundering in connection with 1MDB.