KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested five individuals, including a government agency chairman with the title Datuk, on suspicion of abusing his position in the disposal of land owned by a government agency under a ministry in Penang, resulting in an estimated RM1.96 million loss.
According to sources, the four other individuals — two company directors, a technical manager and a female clerk — are also believed to be involved in the case.
“The government agency chairman, who is in his 50s, was arrested for allegedly abusing his position while serving as deputy chairman and a board member to approve the sale of eight lots of land in South Seberang Perai in 2015 to a company suspected of being linked to his associates.
“He is also believed to have used his position to participate in approving the sale of the land at below-market prices, resulting in an estimated loss of RM1.96 million,” a source said.
According to sources, all five suspects, aged between 40 and 50, were arrested in stages between about 11 am and noon at the Penang MACC office yesterday.
They are expected to be brought before the George Town Magistrate’s Court this morning for a remand application.
Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman, when contacted, confirmed the arrests and said the case was being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009.
