Former top official nabbed

MACC nabs former top official of Tourism Malaysia and he is likely to be remanded today.

PUTRAJAYA: A former top official of Tourism Malaysia has been arrested by the anti-graft agency in connection with a project worth close to RM100mil.

The man arrived at the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) headquarters at about 11am yesterday after being summoned by investigators who had been on the case over the past year.

He was arrested at about 5pm. He is expec- ted to be taken to the magistrate’s court here today to be remanded.

Senior MACC officials declined to comment when contacted.

However, sources revealed that the arrest was over a probe on the “speedy gonzales” deal between Tourism Malaysia and a local company worth RM99.693mil, which was allegedly inked in just one day, about a month before the general election last year.

The contract was for the company to act as a go-between for Tourism Malaysia and a China-based firm to promote Malaysia on social media. The company in question is based in a two-and-a-half-storey terrace house in Petaling Jaya.

The controversy was first highlighted last May by former Tourism Malaysia chairman Wee Choo Keong in his blog.

He alleged that the deal was made against the Tourism Ministry’s procurement regulations and done hastily without proper due diligence.

The MACC had seized documents related to the deal and conducted an “inquiry” at the Tourism Malaysia office in Putrajaya in June.