THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will not rearrest Penang exco Phee Boon Poh, lawyer Ramkarpal Singh said today after the High Court set aside a remand order for the Sg Puyu assemblyman.

This was conveyed by the MACC investigating officer in the case.

“She just informed us that they have no intention of rearresting him. We go with what she has said,” said Ramkarpal.

“The effect of today’s order is that the remand order given last Saturday was set aside because it was irregular.

“In other words, the remand order is as good as non-existent.

“As far as we are concerned, there is no basis for them to hold him any longer. He is a free man.” 

Phee’s other lawyer, R.S.N. Rayer, said the MACC investigating officer also said the agency would want to talk to Phee again at its office.

“We have told the investigating officer that we are willing to assist them and cooperate if further statements from him are requirement. They can serve us a notice.”

Phee, who was arrested last Friday, vowed to stand firm and maintained his innocence.

“I will continue to serve the people to the best of my abilities.

“We have got to be together because this is the darkest hour in Malaysia, when we need change.

“Change comes through sacrifice. And, sacrifices like this, our leaders are all prepared for, for the sake of the people, to make a better Malaysia,” he told reporters outside his lawyers’ office after his release.

Phee was arrested when giving his statement to MACC regarding an illegal factory in Bukit Mertajam.

He had written letters in his capacity as environmental exco to postpone enforcement action on the factory.

MACC detained him to facilitate investigations into a claim that he had used his position for gratification.

Phee said MACC officers acted professionally and treated him well during his detention and told him they were merely following orders. He added that he was willing to cooperate and assist in their investigations.

It also detained the factory’s 70-year-old manager, Gan Buck Hee, and his 37-year-old son, Edmund Gan, who was a director.

The three men were taken to the Penang court complex on Saturday morning and were slapped with a five-day remand order, which their lawyers argued was “illegal”.

On whether they have heard of MACC wanting to call up Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to assist in the investigation into the illegal factory case, Ramkarpal said they had not been informed.

It was reported yesterday that MACC had plans to talk to Lim and Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin, whose constituency is where the factory was located. – August 14, 2017.