BLOGGER RATU NAGA QUIZZED BY MACC

She faces probe over allegations she received a portion of donations collected for NGO, says MACC chief Azam Baki

CONTROVERSIAL blogger Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah — better known as Ratu Naga — was not detained but instead summoned to give a statement by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday.

MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the political activist was being investigated regarding allegations that she received a percentage of donations collected for a nongovernmental organisation.

“I confirm that she was summoned to give a statement, and we also conducted inspections at her premises.

“She is still providing her statement at the MACC office in Putrajaya and has not been detained,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Earlier, it was reported that the blogger was detained in a raid by a team of five MACC officers at her home on Jalan Klang Lama at around 9am yesterday.

Her husband Ezad Zainal, 49, told the New Straits Times that five officers, claiming to be from MACC, raided their house and arrested the 42-year-old blogger.

“I just got home from sending my daughter to school when five officers, comprising four men and a woman in plainclothes, knocked on our door at 9am.

“They introduced themselves as MACC officers and insisted on conducting a raid on the house.

“They left with Ema, her laptop and handphone after 40 minutes,” said Ezad, who lives in Jalan Klang Lama.

He said the officers refused to provide any details on why his wife was being arrested and did not let him view a notice they held, which was allegedly a warrant of arrest.

“We kept asking them what they were looking to find, but none of them said anything.

“They just told me they were arresting my wife to facilitate an investigation.

“When I asked them what offence they were arresting Ema for, they wouldn’t say,” he added.

Ezad said their lawyer Nabila Khairuddin was waiting outside the MACC headquarters, where Ema had been allegedly taken for questioning.