MACC questions 23 Penang RTD personnel
Twenty-three Penang Road Transport Department (RTD) personnel were questioned by the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) here yesterday over their alleged involvement in a lorry driver protection racket.
The group, which included two women, arrived at the MACC headquarters in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah here at 8am.
A source said the RTD officers, aged between 32 and 55, were summoned on Friday.
“We will apply to have them remanded at the magistrate’s court tomorrow (today).”
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed that 23 state RTD enforcement officers were called to have their statements recorded.
When contacted, state RTD director Mohamat Johari Mat Nor said he was not called up by MACC.
“None of the senior officers from Penang RTD were called to give their statements either.”
On Friday, 23 out of 24 state RTD enforcement officers who were remanded by MACC on Wednesday were released on bail. One of them is being held for investigation.
On Wednesday, the magistrate’s court here granted MACC’s application for a sevenday remand for 30 people, including the 24 RTD enforcement officers, which will end next Tuesday.
The remand order came when MACC arrested the group during an operation conducted from 10am to 10pm on Tuesday.
It was learnt that the 24 officers, between Grade 19 and Grade 32, were part of 75 RTD officers being monitored for suspected illicit activities.
The RTD officers are suspected of receiving monthly payments of between RM10,000 and RM32,000 as an inducement not to take action against lorry drivers for offences, such as operating overloaded lorries.
It was reported that RTD had deployed officers to Penang to fill up the vacant posts left following the arrests.
The state RTD has 457 personnel, of whom 139 are enforcement officers.
There are about 8,000 RTD personnel nationwide.