HALIMAH QUESTIONS MACC ARREST

Why detain former state rep during by-election campaign, asks Pas candidate for Seri Setia

PAS candidate for Seri Setia Dr Halimah Ali has questioned the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) action in detaining a former state assemblyman during a by-election campaign.

Dr Halimah said she was shocked to learn of the arrest.

“Why now? However, I hope (MACC) will carry out its duties professionally. The person (the former state assemblyman) must be allowed the right to self-defence. (Pas wants) those on the suspected list to be investigated with transparency, and not due to pressure.

“(Pas does) not have a problem with this. The arrested person is innocent until he is proven guilty,” Dr Halimah said at the early voting centre in Ababil Multipurpose Hall, Subang Airbase, yesterday.

It was reported that a 56-year-old former Selangor state assemblyman was arrested by MACC to facilitate a probe into an alleged abuse of power involving RM50,000.

The woman was arrested at 5.50pm at the Selangor MACC office when she went to give her statement regarding a case, which took place while she was the state assemblyman.

A source close to the investigation said the assemblyman was arrested for allegedly appointing her son’s company as the supplier for events organised by the State Community Service Centre in her constituency back then.

Selangor MACC director Datuk Alias Salim confirmed the arrest under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 for using office or position for gratification.

The suspect was remanded for two days when she was produced before magistrate Raja Noor Adila Raja Mahyaldin yesterday.

Lawyer Ahmad Amzar Ahmad Azlan, who is representing the suspect, said MACC had applied for a week-long remand but the magistrate granted only two days.