PETALING JAYA: Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin says allegations that he received kickbacks from a pre-school book project awarded via direct negotiation by the Education Ministry are defamatory.

"To the accuser, you may be happy after doing this heinous act but will have to answer for it in the afterlife," said the former education minister.

In a three-minute video posted on his Facebook account on Sunday (Sept 24), he denied allegations that he and his wife were connected to J-Qaf, the company which was awarded the pre-school book print project through direct negotiation.

It was reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had arrested two suspects, including a former minister's political secretary, in its investigation over the case.

Radzi also denied claims that his wife is a member of a royal family with a "Tengku" title and had links to the company awarded the project.

"My wife's name is Balkis binti Datuk Syeikh Haji Zakaria bin Haji Ahmad Wan Besar," he said, adding that his wife is the daughter of Zakaria, a senior religious scholar in Kedah known for his books and radio appearances.

"The accusations are totally defamatory and I would advise the accuser to seek me out and ask for forgiveness.

"My wife never interfered when I was the education minister. Even when she asked when school would be re-opened during the Covid-19 pandemic, I said to wait for the statement on TV," he said.