KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, whose brother, Datuk Haris Onn Hussein had recently won a multi-million ringgit security-labelling concession contracts for liquor, has denied having any knowledge or connection with his brother’s business.

"I don't have knowledge and [have] no connection at all as to what my brother does. If there is something, ask him to answer. I will not defend him if he is wrong," Hishamuddin told reporters at Parliament today.

Hishammuddin was responding to news reports that opposition lawmaker Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua had questioned how Lembah Sari Sdn Bhd, a company controlled by Haris – who is also the cousin to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak – managed to get the RM77 million security labelling contract without an open tender from the Royal Malaysian Customs.

Hishammuddin stressed that neither he nor his family, including his brother Haris, has received any contracts from the ministries which he had led in the past.

"I have no connections. There is no conflict of interest. He (Haris) has not benefitted," he said, but added that he could not stop them from making a living as it would be “wrong”.

It was previously reported by The Edge Financial Daily that Lembah Sari was awarded the contract to design, print, store, supply and distribute banderols (tax stamps) for liquor (including beer) between 2014 and 2019 from Customs on July 21.

Lembah Sari has also previously taken over a security-labelling concession for locally and imported cigarettes in 2006 - also without an open tender - from Kod Efisien Sdn Bhd, three years after Kod Efisien got it from Customs.