MACC to call in key person over FIC London, Kuching hotel deals next week

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 10): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will next week call in a key person to help in the probes in connection with the purchases of hotels in London and Kuching, Sarawak by Felda Investment Corp (FIC), Bernama reported yesterday.

The anti-graft body’s deputy chief commissioner (Operations), Datuk Mohd Azam Baki was speaking to the media after appearing on Bernama News Channel’s Ruang Bicara programme at Wisma Bernama, here on Tuesday night.

Azam, however, did not want to reveal the identity of the person.

“Yes, we are going to call someone important over the purchase of the two hotels by FIC. But I can’t tell you who the person is. You just have to wait until next week,” The Star reported him as saying.

Azam also added that nine individuals had been detained and more than 30 witnesses have so far been summoned in connection with the purchase of the two hotels.

On whether the MACC is planning to investigate the purchase of other hotels by FIC, Azam said so far, the commission was just investigating the hotel purchases in London and Kuching, Bernama reported.

"If there are others, we will see whether there are elements of corruption or abuse of power in these purchases,” he said. 

Yesterday, two persons were summoned to the MACC HQ to have their statements recorded.

The two women were assisting with the probe into the purchase of a luxury hotel in Kensington, London by FIC.

They were Felda legal division director Helwani Lukman and another lawyer, believed to be the partner of the lawyer arrested by MACC last week, the NST reported.

Former FIC board member Datuk Nur Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun was also questioned again yesterday over the London hotel deal.