The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will investigate the claim by a Chinese businessman that he had paid for local BN politicians to obtain Datukship.

In a statement today, the commission said it would also meet with China-based CAA Resources chief executive officer Li Yang ( right ), who made the allegation.

The businessman revealed this during an interview with New York Times when speaking about his iron ore mining business in Bukit Besi, Terengganu. Malaysia.

Li, who claimed he had paid about US$100,000 (RM336,501.90) per royal title for the politicians, explained that he did so to “build ties” with politicians and royalty.

"If you’ve got these two to support you, then you can do anything you want because the natural resources are all controlled by them," New York Times quotes Li as saying.

Meanwhile, MACC investigations director Mohd Jamidan Abdullah said Li’s allegations could also damage the image of the palace.

Jamidan said there was a possibility of there being a “middle person” who had taken the opportunity to obtain money from businessmen.

“We will act decisively if it is indeed true that there is bribery practised, in asking money from businessmen, to ease their business operations,” he said, citing previous cases which have been taken to court.

“We would like to stress that corruption can only be tackled if all parties co-operate in giving sufficient information to MACC,” Jamidan said.

Last year, a contractor was given a five-year prison sentence and fined RM50,000 for committing an offence under Section 16(a)(A) of the 2009 MACC Act, for asking RM5,000 to help an individual to obtain a Datukship.

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