Illegal sand mining operation could have cost the govt millions in losses: MACC

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) believes the government could have suffered losses amounting to millions due to the latest anti-graft bust where four men of a sand mining company was nabbed for alleged involvement in illegal sand and gravel mining activities in Selangor.
An investigation launched by the MACC revealed that the company had allegedly bribed local government officers in Kajang, where the company has operated since 2014.
Sources said MACC is in the midst of evaluating the losses suffered by the government and it (the losses) could reach to millions as the company did not halt their illegal activities since 2014.
"MACC detained a lorry transporting rocks from the mining area recently and the drama unfolded when several other lorries subsequently stopped operating when the detention took place.
"This means the activity is still active without any detection and action by the relevant authorities since 2014," he said.
Source added the activity was masterminded by a director of a company who is also a billionaire that owned the mining area.
Investigations also found that the company did not have a permit and did not pay any royalty to the government.
Meanwhile, MACC's Senior Director of Investigation Division, Datuk Simi Abdul Ghani when contacted said four individuals were arrested and remanded for seven days to facilitate the investigation.
He added that MACC have recorded statements from seven individuals including company employees and lorry drivers over the illegal mining activities.
Earlier, it was reported that the Selangor Mentri Besar's Office today confirmed that one of the four men arrested was a nephew of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Its strategic communications director, Yin Shao Loong said posts on social media over the arrest was an attempt to smear Azmin.
"We would like to emphasise that regardless of whether he is the nephew, son or cousin, any accusations dealing with graft should be professionally investigated," Yin said in the statement.
The four men, aged between 34 and 67, were arrested in an operation yesterday (Wednesday) and remanded for seven days by the magistrate's court in Putrajaya today.
Following the arrests, the MACC has frozen RM4 million from the company's bank account.