KUALA LUMPUR -- A former political secretary to a former senior minister was one of the two individuals arrested yesterday by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on suspicion of soliciting and receiving bribes
According to sources, the act of corruption was in exchange for the approval of a book printing project worth about RM80 million involving a ministry through direct negotiations.
"The first suspect is a former political secretary in his 20s while the second suspect is a company owner in his late 50s.
"They are suspected to have colluded with the former senior minister by soliciting and accepting bribes from the contractor through the second suspect's company in exchange for approving the project,” the source said in a statement to Bernama day.
According to MACC, both individuals were arrested at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at around 11 pm after giving their statements and have been remanded for four days until Sept 26.
Meanwhile, MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, who confirmed the arrests, said investigations were carried out under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC 2009 Act.
Though the senior minister concerned is not mentioned, former Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin in a statement said he was aware of social media postings alleging he had approved the J-Qaf book project for preschools involving RM80 million.
"The accusations say that my wife and I acted as proxies through a company, ATR One & Only Enterprise, and that my wife is a royalty with the title 'Tengku'.
"I wish to stress that these allegations in these viral messages linking me and my wife are not true.
"My wife is not a royalty and has nothing to do with the said company mentioned," he said in a statement on Facebook.
Radzi stressed that he had never asked nor received directly or through any other means, solicited for or received any bribes from anyone.
He said yesterday that MACC had picked up his political secretary, apparently because he (Radzi) was involved in such dealings and also based on some WhatsApp messages which went viral on social media.
"It is clear that MACC is acting on some higher-up's orders based on my statements in Parliament on Tuesday.
"This whole thing is being done merely to tarnish my image and reputation and I will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone who repeats or republishes this malicious and baseless slander,” he alleged. -- The Vibes, September 23, 2023
