PETALING JAYA: A political secretary to a Cabinet minister was nabbed today by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Comission (MACC) for alleged corruption.
Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub in a statement admitted that the suspect is his political secretary, adding that he will not interfere in the investigations by the MACC.
“I have been informed that my political secretary has been arrested today by the MACC for an investigation.“
“I will let the law take its course. He is also like any other Malaysian who is subjected to the law.“
“I hold firmly to the principles of the law and I am confident the MACC will investigate this case fairly and independently,“ he said.
It is alleged that the secretary was arrested under the suspicion of receiving bribery in the form of a luxury watch said to be worth RM28,000.
It was reported that a MACC source said the 47-year-old individual was arrested after giving a statement at the commission’s headquarters in Putrajaya at 5pm.
“Initial investigations revealed the man received the luxury watch as a kickback from a development company to secure projects under a ministry,“ the source said.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki confirmed the arrest.
The investigation is being conducted under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.
The suspect will be brought to the Putrajaya magistrate’s court for a remand order to be obtained on tomorrow.
