CASH-strapped Selangor Umno has been forced to rent out its 10-storey headquarters after their accounts were frozen by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last year, which also hit the party with a forfeiture suit earlier this week.

The building located in the heart of the state capital of Shah Alam was built in the late 1990s, which capped Umno’s long rule in the country’s richest state.

However, the state chapter has been finding it difficult to fund its activities after its accounts were frozen last year as part of the investigations into the scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Selangor Umno was also named in the forfeiture suit filed by the MACC to recover 1MDB funds worth RM270 million.

Among the 41 individuals and entities named in the suit were Umno, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, MCA and organisations such as Pertubuhan Kebajikan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Pekida).

The MACC had announced that out of the RM270 million they hoped to recover, RM212 million (78.5%) was sought from Umno divisions. 

A real estate agent confirmed that Umno is looking to rent out the building as advertised on Facebook. The agent, however, refused to provide details.

Based on the advertisement, Selangor Umno wants to rent out the whole building. 

Acting Umno Selangor liaison chairman Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan neither confirmed nor denied the move.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that Selangor Umno was looking for an alternative site and one possibility was its old headquarters in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur. 

Currently, the only occupant in the building on Jalan Perhubungan Perusahaan Selangor is the state chapter, which is operating out of four floors.

The floors are being used for party operations namely, state liaison department, Barisan Nasional Selangor office, meeting room, seminar hall, while the remaining six floors are unoccupied.

Before the 14th general elections, the Entrepreneur Transformation Centre, Entrepreneur Transformation Hub and the Muara Group Sdn Bhd were the tenants of the building, but they moved out after their agreements expired.

The Malaysian Insight had reported that there were two parties – a bank and hotel – which had expressed interest in renting space at the building. – June 28, 2019.