THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained an eighth contractor in relation to a corruption case involving Zakat Pulau Pinang (ZPP) officials.

The 42-year-old woman was arrested at 8pm in Penang yesterday, MACC director Abdul Aziz Aban said.

“The contractor is under remand for investigations for six days beginning today,” he said.

This is the 12th arrest since MACC started hauling up ZPP’s chief executive officer, three other officials from the state agency, and seven contractors yesterday.

The 11 were remanded for seven days starting yesterday. The remand for all 12 ends on Monday.

Aziz said MACC will be hauling up more people, namely contractors who had projects with ZPP, to assist in the investigation.

He said MACC may also talk to the ZPP and Penang Islamic Council (MAIPP) management.

ZPP is a state agency under MAIPP that manages Muslim alms.

Aziz said yesterday that preliminary investigations show that the individuals had allegedly misused funds worth millions of ringgit by organising programmes before splitting the profit.

He also said MACC believed the CEO had allegedly received valuables, money, cheques from contractors and suppliers in return for awarding certain projects to them.

He also said there were claims that the man also approved scholarships for his child without the approval of MAIPP.

The case is being probed under Section 17(a) and Section 17(b) along with Section 23 of the MACC Act for accepting and giving gratification and using his position for gratification.

Earlier today, Penang religious affairs exco Abdul Malik Abul Kassim assured Muslims that the zakat funds are safe.

Despite the arrests, he said ZPP had never encountered cases of misappropriation.

He said the agency’s books were audited by independent accountants and auditors annually since 2008.

MAIPP president and ZPP board chairman Mohd Salleh Man also said earlier today that Muslims need not worry.

He said stern action would be taken if the officials were guilty. – May 10, 2017.