MACC: Give us time to finish probes into FIC hotel purchases
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) is completing investigations into the purchase of two hotels in Kuching and Kensington, London, by Felda Investment Corporation (FIC) before a report can be submitted to the deputy public prosecutor, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said.
“Give us time to complete the investigations into the purchase of the two hotels. There is nothing to disclose now. I cannot even disclose when the investigations will be completed. So, be patient and wait,” he said after witnessing Foreign Ministry staff here take a corruption-free pledge yesterday.
He was asked about the development of the case, which saw several individuals, including former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, being remanded to facilitate investigations.
Last month, MACC opened an investigation paper on FIC’s purchase of a hotel in Kensington in 2014 that allegedly cost much higher than the market price, causing the Felda subsidiary to lose millions of ringgit.
MACC also initiated an investigation into the purchase of a hotel in Kuching by FIC, also allegedly at a much higher price that the market price, causing millions of ringgit in losses to the firm.
Asked about the possibility of anyone being prosecuted, Azam said: “There are too many possibilities.”
He refuted the remark by Isa’s lawyer, K. Kumaraendran, that the former Felda chairman was remanded as a witness.
“I can confirm Isa Samad is a suspect. If you have been arrested, you are my suspect.”
On another matter, he said MACC could not and would not share investigation or intelligence information about any case with the public.
“This information is not for the public,” he said when asked to comment on a media report stating that Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh had RM2 million in his bank account.
MACC had reportedly frozen four bank accounts belonging to Phee following investigations into the alleged illegal factory operating in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.