THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission today confirmed detaining a political party’s state deputy chief for investigation over corrupt practices in awarding a sand mining project.

The commission said the arrested person had links with a former minister whose ministry was in charge of awarding the project.

While MACC did not name the arrested person, media reports have identified him as M.A. Thinagaran, a former aide to PKR vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

Jayakumar was the water, land and natural resources minister under the Pakatan Harapan government.

In a statement earlier today, Jayakumar said Thinagaran was not his aide but a close family friend.

The Kuala Langat MP said he wanted to clear his name after having been implicated in media reports yesterday on the MACC investigation into Thinagaran.

“In a recent media report, my name was implicated, and it has brought prejudice against me as an elected representative.

“Acting on the advice of my family and friends, I am here to clear my name with the authorities.

“Leaders tied to corruption must be accountable to preserve the integrity of our institution, and we are responsible for showing good governance.

“Major decisions made by the ministry must be approved collectively in the cabinet.

“I also hope for the public to show respect to the authorities in the handling of the investigation involving M.A. Thinagaran, who is not an aide of mine as falsely reported, but a close family friend,” he said in a Facebook posting.

MACC said it arrested Thinagaran and two other company directors in an operation in Ipoh yesterday.

“MACC has also seized RM1.2 million in cash, believed to be corruption money, which was kept in a house and office of a proxy to the former minister and arrested person.

“Also seized was a luxury car which was used by the former minister as his official vehicle and is believed to belong to one of the company directors,” said MACC in its statement.

MACC added that it had frozen bank accounts with RM77 million pending investigation. – February 17, 2021.