MOHD Shafie Apdal and his brother, Yusop, may be next to be called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as it extends its probe into the alleged embezzlement of RM1.5 billion in federal funds meant for rural projects in Sabah, said the anti-graft body’s chief, Dzulkifli Ahmad.

He said more people would be called in, and did not dismiss the possibility that Shafie and Yusop were also on MACC’s list.

Another of Shafie’s brothers, Hamid, was earlier detained to facilitate investigations.

Yusop is Silam Umno chief and Lahad Datu assemblyman.

“We will call more people soon, and we will continue to detain individuals who we feel can assist in the investigations,” Dzulkifli said, after he was asked if Shafie and Yusop were on the list.

He stressed that the MACC investigation was strictly focused on allegations of misappropriation of funds and corrupt practices, and that it was not a political probe. 

“Look at who we have arrested. We have not only detained Parti Warisan Sabah members, but also Umno members. Our investigation is based on evidence, not political parties. This is beyond politics.”

In an interview with The Malaysian Insight yesterday, Shafie said he believed the probe into the alleged embezzlement was “selective prosecution”, carried out to destroy his political future.

He said his former ministry’s performance had always exceeded expectations, from the aspect of numbers and the value of each project executed.

Shafie was rural and regional development minister from 2009 to 2015, when he was dropped from the Cabinet by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

MACC last week said it was investigating some 350 rural projects involving water and electricity supply, as well as roads, given by the ministry to 60 companies between 2009 and 2015.

Some RM1.5 billion in federal funds is believed to have been misappropriated from a RM7.5 billion allocation for Sabah.

To date, some RM180 million in several bank accounts has been frozen, but MACC expects more money will be found soon in the ongoing probe, and later when it expands its investigations to other states.

More than 45 people have been questioned.

Those detained for further investigations include Warisan vice-president Peter Anthony, a former deputy secretary of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, a 54-year-old businessman, Warisan Youth chief Azis Jamman, Tawau Umno Youth leader Ariffin Kassim, Tenom Umno Youth leader Jamawi Jaafar and Shafie’s younger brother, Hamid.

“The investigation is now being led by Sabah MACC’s former director, Hishamuddin Hashim, who is now based in Putrajaya, and supervised by (deputy commissioner of operations) Azam Baki in Putrajaya,” Dzulkifli told reporters after conducting a site visit at the Sungai Intan Water Treatment Plant in Semporna today.

The RM45 million plant is one of the projects under investigation by MACC.

It was completed last year under the Rural Water Supply Project, under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, but remains nonoperational until today.

It was meant to supply treated water to 1,800 residents in Kampung Sungai Intan and the surrounding areas.

Dzulkfli said residents had waited more than 30 years for a stable water supply, but got water only up to three times a week, or every other day.

“They have to source water from a well that they built themselves. This is why MACC is looking into this case very seriously. If there had been elements of corruption and abuse of power, the ones affected are the people.

“They (residents) had no room for recourse except to seek help from MACC.” – October 12, 2017.