Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor became a little agitated when he was questioned about the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) director who was detained in connection with corruption and money laundering.

“If their work is good... apart from that, we don’t know the rest. Why pose this question to me.

“This is not fair, what is MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) for?

"The manner in which you ask is not fair to me. Why pose this question to me?” he asked reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Tengku Adnan, who is often referred to as Ku Nan, was asked to comment on a senior MACC officer who expressed puzzlement over the minister’s earlier remarks concerning the case.

He added the DBKL officer is already suspended from service pending the outcome of the investigation.

Yesterday, Tengku Adnan was reported as describing the director, who has a ‘Datuk Seri’ title, as a good officer, who was known for his dedication and good decision-making skills.

The minister also revealed that the officer was promoted twice in a year, and spoke about how fellow colleagues and coordinators could at times be jealous of such achievements.

"However, that is him at the workplace... what he does apart, from his job, I do not know," Tengku Adnan told the New Straits Times.

The DBKL officer was among three senior officers detained on Monday for allegedly committing graft, abuse of power and money laundering.

The others are from the Malacca Public Works Department and the Kelantan office of Tenaga Nasional Bhd. The commission seized various assets, including luxury cars, from the trio.

MACC also seized RM400,000 in cash and froze RM13 million in accounts belonging to the suspects, including savings accounts and unit trusts worth between RM1 million and RM6 million.

During the raid, MACC officers also seized huge amounts of cash hidden in the ceiling of one of the suspects’ house.

Tengku Adnan says the ministry is now reviewing integrity measures and is seeking a guideline from the MACC on how to curb graft in the DBKL.

He added DBKL and the Federal Territories Ministry has integrity units which advises all officers on asset declarations.

He says the mayor, too, has to declare his assets.