Five Hulu Selangor municipal councillors have been called up by the Selangor branch of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today to assist in investigations.

It is understood that the MACC is investigating an abuse of power by a municipal council officer approving the establishment of an art gallery in Kuala Kubu Bharu.

youths voters registration campaign 100707 chua yee ling According to councillor Chua Yee Ling ( right ), four of her colleagues were at the commission's office in Shah Alam at 11.30 this morning for their statements to be recorded.

There are Santokh Singh (DAP), Abdul Wahab Ibrahim, Mai Mt Zin (both PKR) and K Suppiah (NGO).

However, two of the councillors - Abdul Wahab and Suppiah - have not been reappointment for another term.

Another former councillor, R Kaevan, who was also called up by the MACC, was unable to attend as he is currently in India.

Chua said the councillors were not accompanied by lawyers as there was no time to make the necessary arrangements, since they were only informed by MACC officers yesterday afternoon about today's interview.

They were, however, not informed of the matter that was being investigated until this morning, she said.

NONE All five are from a pioneer batch of Hulu Selangor municipal councillors appointed after the takeover of the Selangor administration by Pakatan Rakyat in 2008.

Their term expired on Wednesday and it is unsure who among them would be retained as the official list of councillors for the term ending Dec 31, 2011, is only due to be announced today.

All them were later allowed to leave the MACC office at 12.30 this afternoon after their statements were recorded.

According to Santokh, the case actually involved a municipal council officer who allegedly abused his power to allow an art gallery to be opened in an old government quarters.

NONE The former local councillors were called because they were part of the cultural, youth and sport sub-committee meeting in August 2008 that approved the building to be used for museum purposes.

“The officer had changed the usage on his own later, but he never informed the councillors,” he explained.

The MACC officers wanted to know the details of the sub-committee’s decision and whether they knew about the actions of the officer.

When asked whether they will be called up again by the commission for investigation, Santokh said he is unsure.