Mentri Besar Inc senior exec detained in graft probe

PETALING JAYA: A high-ranking Mentri Besar Inc (MBI) officer has been remanded together with a woman company director in connection with a mining sector corruption and abuse of power probe.

The two were detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and remanded for three days over the case, which allegedly involves bribes exceeding RM13mil.

According to sources, the suspects, who are 63 and 40 years old respectively, were arrested late Tuesday (July 18) afternoon in Alor Setar and Kuala Lumpur.

“Mining activities carried out illegally by the company involved have received protection from certain authorities since 2020.

“In this regard, the results of the investigation were able to detect that several payments amounting to more than RM13mil were given… as bribes to protect these illegal mining activities from 2020 to this year,” the source said.

The source added that the company owned by the woman is believed to have received approval to carry out the development of cloned rubber tree plantations in 2016.

“The project aims to replant cloned rubber trees in the logging areas involved.

“In 2020, the same company submitted an application to a state government to conduct rare earth element (REE) mining activities in the same compartment,” the source said.

However, it is learnt that no approval has been given by the state government regarding the company’s application to carry out the mining activities.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and said the case was being investigated under Sections 17 and 23 of the MACC Act 2009.