THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will call up Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and PKR’s Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin to assist investigations into the graft allegations against state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh.

Phee was arrested by MACC on Friday and was remanded yesterday over letters he wrote as the exco in charge of the environment concerning an illegal carbon filter processing factory that had been running for over 10 years on farm land in an oil palm estate in Sungai Lembu, Bukit Mertajam.

MACC deputy chief Azam Baki said Lim and Dr Norlela would be summoned to have their statements recorded soon, but the commission was looking at other angels in the case at the moment.

He said calling in the two was a normal procedure as they had been found to have made statements about the case.

Azam said, to date, three people, including a state exco he did not identify but believed to be Phee, had been detained in the case.

It is learnt that the letters were written last year seeking a postponement on enforcement action against the factory.

The Penang government’s policy is to solve issues of illegal structures built before 2008 amicably, as long as it did not pose problems to the public.

MACC and various federal authorities raided the factory on Thursday. They also took documents from a Seberang Prai Municipal councillor.

On Friday, MACC officers went to see Phee at his office in Komtar and took some documents. In the afternoon, Phee was told to go to the Penang MACC office for his statement to be recorded.

He was told he would be arrested while his statement was being taken. Phee’s lawyer  RSN Rayer said Phee’s arrest was ordered by headquarters in Putrajaya.

Dr Norlela has come under fire fire for raising the issue at a time when a general election was due soon, stating she had raised the issue after many villagers had complained about the factory.

She has denounced her critics for treating her like a criminal.

A DAP MP had said he expected more action against opposition leaders as the deadline for the general election drew closer. – August 13, 2017.