KUALA LUMPUR: Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said three special forces officers who are being investigated for acting as his escorts were only serving him on “a temporary period”.
Hishammuddin, in a Twitter posting, said he had offered the officers to work with him but they must first resign from the Armed Forces.
"They are close to me and my family, having served us for so many years. They are only with me for a temporary period.
"I have offered them employment, but if they accept they must resign from the Armed Forces with immediate effect," he said.
The three officers had reportedly been attached to Hishammuddin since he became defence minister in 2013.
His twitter posting comes in the wake of the ministry being directed to investigate claims that three military special forces personnel were still working as his escorts.
Defence Minister Mohammad Sabu said he had directed for an investigation into the matter after learning about it from a newsportal report.
He said appropriate action would be taken against the trio if they were found to have breached existing regulations.
"I have ordered an immediate investigation to be carried out, and appropriate action will be taken if there is any breach of any current practices or regulations," he said in a statement earlier today.
A newsportal had reported that two Navy special operations force (Paskal) officers and a commando were still working as escorts for Hishammuddin.
The newsportal reported that the two Paskal officers are still on active duty, while details on the commando were scant.
However, sources quoted by the portal said he had been photographed with Hishammuddin this week.
The Armed Forces source claimed the trio were pulling in two salaries, both from Hishammuddin and the military.