MISC officials under MACC probe over alleged corruption of RM109m

PUTRAJAYA: Government-linked maritime company Malaysia International Shipping Corporation Berhad (MISC Bhd) has come under the radar of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after allegations of power abuse and corruption involving about RM109 million surfaced last month.
Sources revealed that MACC investigators received a tip-off that alleged MISC officers were in cahoots with third-party contractors in making false payment claims at jacked up fees and non-existent work contracts involving the maintenance of ships owned by the company.
It is learnt that the false payment claims were made between 2010 and 2013.
Following the tip-off, MACC investigators raided MISC Bhd and the companies involved in the alleged fraud in Kuala Lumpur and Johor last Wednesday.
Sources said nine witnesses, including four senior MISC officials, were quizzed and documents relevant to the case were seized.
Among the allegations probed by the commission was repair works for a tanker vessel at a cost of RM61.6 million in 2012.
Early findings showed that the actual cost of the repair for the tanker is estimated to be at RM31 million.
Another allegation was on the loss of almost RM47 million by MISC Bhd as a result of a failure in observing company procedures in the appointment of the contractor.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki when contacted yesterday confirmed the investigations are ongoing.
However, he declined to divulge further details, fearing it might jeopardise the course of investigations.
In a separate case, the MACC nabbed a 58-year-old engineer of Petronas Chemical Group and his 49-year-old wife for allegedly demanding for a RM361,000 bribe from a contractor who was assigned to carry out serviceability tests on the piping system installed at the Sabah Ammonia Urea (Samur) project in Sipitang, Sabah three years ago.
The couple were arrested at their house in Shah Alam at 2pm yesterday.
Sources said the engineer who was a quality control/analysis manager for the project had allegedly received kickbacks to facilitate the appointment of sub-contractors for the project.
It is learnt that the kickbacks were paid to the engineer's personal bank account and his wife's company account.
MACC director of investigations Datuk Simi Abd Ghani when contacted yesterday confirmed the couple was held and is expected to be remanded today for further investigations.
He said the MACC has recorded the statements of 12 people who are relevant to the case.