KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed the arrest of a deputy chairman of a political party linked to a former minister on suspicion of accepting bribes for a project awarded to it by a ministry in 2019.
MACC also arrested two company directors in Ipoh last night.
“MACC has also confiscated cash amounting to RM1.2 million believed to be corruption-linked money in the house and proxy office of the former minister and deputy chairman.
“A luxury car used by the former minister as an official vehicle, believed to belong to one of the directors of the company that approved the project, was also seized.
“RM77 million from several company and individual accounts have also been frozen,” said MACC in a statement.
It was reported yesterday that PKR’s Perak deputy chairman M.A. Tinagaran had been arrested and a car as well as some cash were also seized.
It is learnt that Tinagaran, who has also been linked to former water, land and natural resources minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar, has been remanded for six days.
In a statement today, PKR vice-president Xavier denied that Tinagaran was his former aide.
Xavier had said that he was seeking to clear his name after he was named in a number of media reports following Tinagaran’s arrest – who he described as a “close family friend”.
“Investigations are still ongoing. MACC hopes that all parties will not make any speculations regarding the case,” the agency said. – The Vibes, February 17, 2021
