MACC demands list of land Taib owns - from opposition MP

Just hours after an opposition member presented Parliament with a list of the land acquired in the timber-rich state by the family of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, three officers of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) came a-calling.

They wanted that list.


"If I, an ordinary citizen, can get this information from the land office, why can't the MACC?" Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen (pic) demanded to know.

He is one of the Sarawak-based opposition MPs who have trained their sights on the chief minister but are finding him a constantly moving target. Chong was scathing as he questioned the inability of the MACC to strengthen its case against Taib and his family.

He pointed out that the MACC has a special taskforce of 10 investigators to probe the alleged corruption. "If the so-called 10-man probe team are doing their job, there is no reason why they should not have these documents," he said.


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Man charged with bribing 13-year-old girl's father RM5,000 to withdraw rape report

The restaurant manager accused of raping a 13-year-old girl whom he subsequently married, has been charged with bribing the girl's father RM5,000 to withdraw the police report.

Riduan Masmud, 41, was accused of offering RM5,000 to the man on April 18 and for giving RM2,000 and RM3,000 between 9pm and 12 midnight at separate locations in Kota Kinabalu on the same day.

The rape, which allegedly took place in a parked car in Inanam around 10 am on Feb 18, was not brought to light until the 13-year-old's aunt filed a police report.

Riduan, who has two daughters and two sons with his first wife, was charged with the crime 10 days later but married the girl in the Syariah court soon after.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prosecuting Officer Mukhriz Mat Rus representing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission asked for a RM10,000 bail with two local sureties after Riduan pleaded not guilty to the charges read to him in front of Sessions Court judge Caroline Bee Majanil on Monday.

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Taib Mahmud: MACC doesn’t deserve my co-operation

Taib arriving for the BN meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

Hit by graft allegations, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said today he will not co-operate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as he believes the government body to be “naughty” and “dishonest” in its investigations.

The long-serving Sarawak chief minister was cast into the international spotlight last month after an environmental activist group released a video documentary alleging the state Barisan Nasional chief to have received millions of ringgit in kickbacks over land deals that have denuded the Borneo state.

“They don’t deserve my co-operation because they have been naughty... and they have not been honest,” Taib told reporters after attending a Barisan Nasional leadership meeting here.

Taib said he was not afraid of being investigated by the anti-graft body.

“Let them victimise me... I am not scared”

Residents lodge complaint with MACC over condo project

Nambikai United Association president B. Kalai Vanar (third from right) with residents of Kampung Bunga Melor, 14th Mile, Puchong, prior to handing over the memorandum to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya yesterday. Pic by Fariz Iswadi Ismail

Fed-up with non-action by the Selangor government and Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), disgruntled residents of Kampung Bunga Melor, 14th Mile, Puchong, handed over a memorandum and lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commision (MACC) calling for a probe into the construction of a condominium next to their homes.

Fourteen residents representing 27 families, led by Nambikai United Association president B. Kalai Vanar, claimed that their complaints over the past four years had fallen on deaf ears after Pakatan Rakyat took over the Selangor government.

Team Shahrizat strikes back at Wanita Umno deputy

The Wanita Umno leaders maintain that Shahrizat continues to enjoy “united and robust” support.


Wanita Umno’s pro-Shahrizat faction shot back at their deputy Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim today, insisting her repeated demands for their leader’s resignation were not shared by the wing’s majority.

In a short statement claiming to represent Wanita Umno’s top echelon, including its central leadership and state chiefs, the wing insisted that Kamilia’s latest call for Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s resignation stemmed from “her own agenda and personal view”.

“It does not at all give the true picture of what is happening in Umno’s women movement regarding that particular issue (National Feedlot Centre or ‘NFC’) whether at the exco level, state, division or even the grassroots,” the statement said.

Awang Adek: My conscience is clear

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin has admitted that he received a cash contribution through his personal bank account, as alleged by a blogger.

However, he denied the cash contribution was a bribe, saying it was donated from various quarters for social programmes in Bachok, Kelantan, where he is the Umno division chief.

Awang Adek was responding to an allegation in a blog by one TheWhistleblower711 who claimed a Johor Umno division leader had been awarded a Public Works Department (PWD) contract as a result of cash payments to the deputy minister.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is reportedly investigating the allegation.

Cops nab Datuk for offering bribe to officers probing NFC

: Cops arrested a Datuk for allegedly trying to bribe officers investigating a commercial crime believed to be linked to the controversial National Feedlot Centre (NFC) funds issue.

Police obtained a court order on Thursday to remand the businessman until Friday.

The remand order was issued against the 45-year-old man by magistrate Tengku Eliana Tuan Kamarulzaman Thursday afternoon at the Bukit Jalil Police Station Temporary Detention Centre, near here.

The man, who was taken in a police car, arrived at the Bukit Jalil Police Station at 9am.

Man held in bribery bid over NFC probe, says MACC

Police have arrested a man who allegedly tried to bribe senior officers investigating a high-profile commercial crime, which anti-graft officials say is linked to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal.

The police obtained a remand order from the magistrates court today for the 45-year-old man.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the man is now in their custody as part of their investigations into the case.

MACC passes buck on cattle condo to cops

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has refused to probe the controversial RM10 million purchase of a condominium by a federally-funded cattle project, claiming today the issue is a police matter.

In a statement here, the graft-busting agency said the matter has been classified as an offence under the Penal Code, which does not come under its jurisdiction.

“MACC confirms receiving a public complaint on the RM9.8 million purchase, said to be made using the National Feedlot Centre’s (NFC) funds.

“This complaint was referred to the legal and prosecution division.

Umno blogs use sex video to attack Customs ahead of Sarbaini verdict

Umno-linked blogs have released a sex video in an apparent attempt to tarnish the reputation of Customs officers ahead of Monday’s verdict in the inquest into the death of Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamed.

The video — which appears to have been secretly recorded — shows a Malay man engaging in sex with a Caucasian woman in what looks like a hotel room.

Khir Toyo trial: Prosecution wraps up

 Chang Ching last witness to testify, Khir Toyo (R)


The prosecution in the graft trial of former Selangor Mentri Besar Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo closed its case yesterday after calling its 25th witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission acting senior superintendent Chang Ching.

In his testimony, Chang said under cross examination by lead defence counsel M. Athimulan that he had warned Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Hayroni about the consequences of lying when having his statement recorded.

He said a total of 13 statements were recorded from Shamsuddin.

“Before the charge, we recorded eight statements under Section 30(3)(b) of the MACC Act 2009,” he said.

He said Shamsuddin gave his ninth statement after he was arrested, and then subsequently he gave four more statements.

RCI head: Agong to decide if report to be made public

Only the Agong can decide whether the report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock can be made public.

Panel head James Foong said this after submitting the RCI's 124-page report to the Agong at his palace this morning.

Another copy will be submitted to the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya this afternoon.

The five panel members presented their findings at 10.30am to Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who had a 30-minute audience with them.

The RCI commenced gathering evidence from Feb 14, 2011 and ended its proceedings on May 18, 2011.

A total of 70 witnesses testified, and 19,200 notes of proceedings were recorded, said Foong.

Teoh Beng Hock exhumed for second autopsy - old news-

Teoh Beng Hock's body was exhumed Saturday for a second autopsy at the Sungai Buloh Hospital. The exhumation had been ordered by the inquest into the political aide's death, after a Thai pathologist testified that his likely cause of death was homicide and not suicide.

Inquest into Ahmad Sarbani's death July 4-15

An inquest is to be held from July 4 to 15 into the death of Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed in April while under the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The inquest will be heard before Magistrate Aizatul Akmal Maharani who will sit as the coroner, according to a displayed notice signed by her.

Ahmad Sarbani, 56, who was attached to the Port Klang Customs Office, was found dead at the badminton court on the first floor of the Federal Territory MACC office in Jalan Cochrane here on April 6.

He had been released on bail after his arrest during a graft probe involving Customs officers and had gone to the MACC office on April 6, apparently to change his statement.

MACC officer's car splashed with red paint

The car of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Special Investigations Division Enforcement senior assistant superintendent Mohd Yussof Zakaria was splashed with red paint at a parking lot near his home in Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kuala Lumpur.

He learnt of the incident at 7.15am Monday when he went to the parking lot of the Bandar Tasik Selatan Low-Cost Apartment to leave for his office in Putrajaya.

The paint was splashed on driver's side of the car windscreen.

Mohd Yussof lodged a report at the Putrajaya police headquarters at 10am.

A police spokesperson confirmed the report.

Police file application for inquest in Ahmad Sarbani’s death

: Police filed an application on Friday for an inquest to determine the circumstances leading to the death of Selangor Customs assistant director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed while in the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Teoh RCI keeps submissions secret to avoid trial by media

The Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) will not release lawyers’ submissions now pending its report to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to prevent a trial by media.

The RCI investigating Teoh’s high-profile death is to submit its report to the King by June 25, almost two years after the DAP political aide mysteriously fell to his death outside the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in ShahAlam.


“We want to avoid the media picking perhaps juicy parts and not getting the gist of it,” said MACC lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah at a joint press conference today with Bar Council lawyer Christopher Leong, conducting officer Amarjeet Singh and RCI secretary Datuk Saripuddin Kasim.

“It’s to avoid a trial by media until a proper decision is made,” added Shafee.

Saripuddin said it was a unanimous decision made at a lawyers’ meeting with the commissioners earlier today.

Analyse suicide note again, says RCI

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock has decided to send the “suicide note” allegedly written by Teoh to the Chemist Department to be analysed again.

TBH inquiry: 'Suicide note' to be re-examined

The suicide note purportedly written by Teoh Beng Hock will be re-examined to decipher certain words which had been cancelled out, the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) investigating Teoh's death decided today.

The commission, which reconvened briefly, allowed the May 11 application by Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) lawyer Datuk Seri Mohd Shafee Abdullah to re-analyse the alleged suicide note so that the cancelled out words could be read.

The note in question was discovered almost a year after Teoh was found dead on the fifth floor landing of the then-MACC office at Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam, on July 16, 2009.

"When one looks at the suicide note, (the interpreter) was able to read what was very vigorously erased by the writer," said Shafee.

Shafee said the words could be made out when held up against a bright light.

Emotional testimony in Teoh Beng Hock inquiry

"He was the man I would be with for the rest of my life. I have taken him as my future."

It was an emotional testimony from Soh Cher Wei, 30, who took the stand today as the 66th witness in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the death of Teoh Beng Hock.

Soh broke down when questioned by Commissioner Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom on her relationship with Teoh, with whom she had been engaged to marry.

"He was a good person. He loved me," she said, after Hatta asked her what she liked about Teoh.

She said they never had the chance to name their child after they found out she was pregnant early July last year. Their wedding dinner had also been booked for Oct 3, 2009.