INFORMATION on the arrest of Mohamed Azmin Ali’s nephew was leaked as part of a conspiracy to hurt the reputation of the menteri besar and Selangor government ahead of the 14th general election, said the state government.

“We don’t question the responsibility of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to carry out an investigation. However, we regret that the information was leaked and spread via social media and an Umno blogger before an arrest was made,” said Yin Shao Loong, the Menteri Besar’s Office strategic communications director, in a statement.

He was referring to information on an “MACC raid” that had been making the rounds online since Tuesday.

“This clearly shows that there is a conspiracy to tarnish the reputation of the menteri besar and state government in the run-up to GE14.”

Four people, including Azmin’s nephew, were today remanded for seven days to facilitate the MACC investigation into illegal sand mining in Kajang.

The men were detained over their involvement in a sand-mining company that had allegedly bribed local government officers in Kajang in 2014.

The company’s accounts, containing RM4 million, have been frozen.

The Selangor government welcomed the investigation, and said it must be carried out professionally without being influenced by parties with vested interests.

“The investigation must not be used to distract the public from the large-scale corruption scandal and kleptocracy involving the nation’s leader.” – November 30, 2017.