Corrupt timber companies had taken anti-graft pledge

KUALA LUMPUR: Several timber companies raided by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for alleged graft in a massive operation against illegal logging in Sarawak on Tuesday ironically were those who had taken a pledge to abstain from corruption under a government initiative.
Sources said MACC officials who conducted checks found that several of the three dozen companies ambushed had signed the governments Corporate Integrity Pledge but allegedly went on with corrupt practices to facilitate illegal logging in Sarawak.
The Corporate Integrity Pledge (CIT) under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) is an initiative that encourages a company to make a commitment to uphold anti-corruption principles.
In the latest developments of the operation which is the biggest ever conducted by the MACC, another 30 financial accounts of timber companies were frozen yesterday bringing the total to 405.
MACC Director of Investigations Datuk Mohd Jamidan Abdullah said account freezing involved about RM600 million and another 1,200 timber logs were seized bringing the total to 1,700. The logs are believed to be worth about RM1.5 million.
He said 10 people comprising of timber factory owners and supervisors have been questioned for offences related to illegal logging, tax evasion and corruption.
Mohd Jamidan said executing the operation was a challenge as most of targeted areas raided were in rugged terrain in the deep interiors of the state, acessible only by boat and helicopter.
He said the operation codenamed "Ops Gergaji" will continue to be carried out to eradicate illegal logging in Sarawak.
The joint-operation that involved 400 personnel from the MACC, police, Inland Revenue Department, the forestry department and state government saw 48 raids being conducted at timber factories, log ponds and the business premises of logging companies at Miri, Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Bakun and Kapit on Tuesday (May 12).