MACC probes 20 projects under Selangor MBI, ex-COO remanded a week

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating 20 projects under the Selangor Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) believed to be linked to corrupt activities.

“We are going to check 20 projects involving the state (of Selangor) which we have been informed have received bribes. These are projects which have to do with state interests.

“These projects are not linked to the current Selangor Mentri Besar.

“We need to wrap up our investigations and collect the evidence before we call the said politician. We do not know if there are other Selangor politicians involved – for now, it is only one Selangor politician,” said MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

He said that the former chief operating officer (COO) of MBI is being remanded for a week, starting Thursday (Oct 17) over the MBI project but on another issue.

The former top official of the Selangor state advisory body was rearrested yesterday.

Azam also said that MACC found RM600,000 in a premises in the Klang Valley, suspected to be for the Selangor politician which he is not naming for now.

He said this to the media after officiating at a roundtable for commercial banks organised by the MACC today.

“This morning, we have been granted a seven-day remand for the 45-year-old former COO of MBI, whom we arrested before this and managed to get only one-day remand and was released.

“Today, he was rearrested and the Magistrate’s Court granted the remand.

“We had arrested two – connected to the MBI case – prior to this, and the other is still in remand for five days, of which I announced yesterday.

“On the latest development on the MBI case – six more premises were raided by MACC. Among the findings were RM600,000 cash in a residential premises in the Klang Valley yesterday (Oct 16), suspected to be for the politician.

“We are also looking into five companies that allegedly have shares in the companies which involved the ones we arrested and the politician.

“The premises which we have raided do not belong to the suspects and some were rented houses.

“If we are to call in anyone to give statements, we have to do our work. I cannot say how long it will be before we call the politician. When we want to call someone important, we have to get wholesome evidence. I have advised my officers to only call the politician when the evidence is sufficient.

“Many have been called to give statements – as of now about 18 individuals,” said Azam.

He added that there will be more arrests connected to this issue.

On Sunday, MACC raided an apartment unit, said to be a politician’s “safe house”, and seized about RM5mil in foreign currency.

This raid follows the detention of two individuals, including a former senior executive of MBI, on Thursday (Oct 10) in connection with a corruption case related to a sand mining concession.