MACC: MORE ARRESTS TO COME
Anti-graft body locating firms involved, recording witnesses’ statements
THE Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) is expected to arrest more individuals over their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of federal-funded projects for the underprivileged in Sabah.
Its deputy chief commissioner (operations), Datuk Azam Baki, however, said he could not reveal more details but pointed out that at least 32 witnesses had been identified to assist investigations.
“As I have said yesterday, we are locating these companies and their owners, and we are also recording witnesses’ statements. On whether there will be more arrests, it will depend.
“I have not ruled this out but I can’t reveal who and how many more are about to be arrested,” he told the New Sunday Times.
MACC had said there were more than 60 companies being investigated for siphoning off an estimated RM1.5 billion from the RM7.5 billion allocated for projects between 2010 and 2015.
Azam said 50 of his men were involved in the investigations.
To date, three individuals have been arrested, including Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony and a local businessman. Peter was remanded for five days.
He was detained at the Sabah MACC office after giving his statement on Thursday.
Another suspect, a former deputy secretary of a division in the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, was remanded for six days.
The 40-year-old woman was arrested at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 8.15pm, also on Thursday.
The trio’s arrests came following the anti-graft body’s swoop on 15 locations in Sabah and the freezing of bank accounts totalling almost RM180 million.
The NST ran an exclusive story that MACC was investigating the embezzlement of government funds on Wednesday.
It was revealed that the graftbusters were investigating a number of companies, along with several senior officials of a ministry, for siphoning off no less than RM100 million meant for initiatives and programmes for the rakyat, including the hardcore poor.
Tenom member of parliament Datuk Raime Unggi said misappropriation of funds in Sabah had “long been an issue” and thanked MACC for its tough stand in fighting corruption.
“MACC has finally responded and is trying to weed out suspects, who were supposed to help in developing the state, but instead, were stealing from the people.”
He took a swipe at those who had criticised MACC, including Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, saying that the aggressive approach by the commission might have made some “restless”.
Former rural and regional development minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had since rubbished claims that companies being probed by MACC were linked to him.
The Semporna MP, who is also Parti Warisan Sabah president, had said he was prepared to assist MACC in its investigations. Additional reporting by Avila Geraldine