Sarikei: The 9th Malaysian Infantry Brigade Headquarters (9th Brigade) today denied any involvement in a letter seeking allocations for the purported Sarawak state-level Independence Day Banquet at Dewan Suarah Sarikei. In a statement, the brigade said an investigation was underway to identify the person responsible for issuing the letter.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the letter, dated Aug 26, and titled ‘Permohonan Peruntukan Kewangan Bagi Program Jamuan Makan Sempena Merdeka 2025’, was purportedly issued by the Director of the Finance Unit, Ministry of Defence, Wisma Pertahanan, Jalan Padang Tembak, Kuala Lumpur. The document falsely bore the signature of ‘Staff Sergeant Muhammad Fauzi bin Tengku Ibrahim (RAMD Chief), 510th Territorial Army Regiment Military Camp, Sri Rejang Camp’, and requested an allocation of RM10,000 for the purported programme.

The 9th Brigade headquarters has received four reports regarding the letter, as stated in the statement. 9th Brigade Commander Brigadier General Jafri Sulaiman urged anyone who received the letter to contact the 9th Brigade headquarters and lodge a police report immediately. The move, he said, was important to curb fraudulent activities and to safeguard the good name of the Malaysian Army and other public agencies.