THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested three people, including a division director of a ministry, on suspicion of receiving large sums of bribes on a monthly basis.

According to an MACC source, the division director along with a project consultant and a director of a construction company, all of whom are in their 40s, were arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya between 11am and 9pm yesterday when they came in to give their statements.

The source said the trio are suspected of receiving bribes on a monthly basis from contractors who got projects from the ministry involved.

“The bribes were payments from the contractors who had been appointed by the ministry involved in return for speeding up the claim payment process, helping to approve variation orders and extension of time for the projects,” said the source, adding that the division director is also believed to have received bribes in the form of luxury goods for personal use.

The division director is on remand for seven days starting today, while the other two individuals were remanded for three days also from today.

MACC investigation division senior director Hishamuddin Hashim, who confirmed the arrests, said the case is being investigated under section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. – Bernama, January 18, 2023.