THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation into a RM500 million corruption scandal involving the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) has so far seen graft officers mount nine raids, including on four locations in 24 hours, with about 90 boxes of document seized.

MACC is investigating allegations of power abuse and contract leakages, including direct negotiations, which allegedly resulted in losses to the government and the public being misled.

The raids started on January 9, but yesterday was the busiest for the graft-busters.

The first raid yesterday was at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in Cyberjaya at 9am, and it ended with the fourth raid 12 hours later at the house belonging to the son of a senior CCM officer.

MACC also raided two other premises belonging to suspect.

The Malaysian Insight understands that the man, in his 20s, had made himself scarce since the first MACC raid, but was present at his office in Tamarind Square when the officers swooped in at 3.30pm yesterday.

The man is linked to another company raided by the anti-graft agency earlier this month, said sources, who were unable to confirm if the man would be detained.  

The first raid MACC conducted was at CCM on January 9, which saw the seizure of 69 boxes.

A day before the raid, a civil society group submitted a memorandum to MACC listing alleged wrongdoing, abuse of power and corruption at the government agency in the implementation of high-impact projects.

The memorandum alleged that some projects were awarded to the same individuals and companies.

The allegations in the memorandum were raised in Parliament by Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin in November last year.

Among Bung Moktar’s allegations were flaws and weaknesses in CCM’s key projects, and gave an example where CCM had allegedly given a project directly to Formis Network Services Sdn Bhd without going through an open tender.

He said the contract was for five years, with a mandatory five-year extension, resulting in losses to the government amounting to RM250 million.

MACC are looking into these allegations, and has raided two government bodies – MCMC and CCM –  and four companies, including an accounting firm in Bangsar South and a business consultancy in Sunway Nexis. A warehouse in Semenyih was also raided.

MACC’s probe is currently centred on the son of the CCM official, but he is not believed to be the main culprit.

“While several files have been confiscated from his office in Cyberjaya, we still believe there are other documents,” said a source on the continuing raids.

 “We are still looking for the main culprit. It is possible that some people have been used for the purpose of getting this project,” he added.

The son of the CCM official is expected to be summoned to MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Tuesday for questioning. – January 19, 2019.