The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested another 19 officials from the Sabah Water Department and seized RM4.2 million in cash.

The arrest and asset seizures took place yesterday at numerous locations throughout the state.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki in a statement today confirmed that the arrests were made.

“Those arrested are all males between the ages of 29 to 59 and this is the second phase of the MACC operation after the first one last Oct 4,” he said

Azam said the operations are done simultaneously in 27 locations involving the department and districts all over Sabah where a total of RM4.2 million were seized from some of the suspects.

“We also freezed RM3.6 million (in assets) owned by some of the suspects,” he added.

Azam said initial investigation showed that the suspects were receiving between 27 to 30 percent from contractors who were awarded projects by the department throughout Sabah.

He said of the 19 arrested, 18 were remanded today. Fourteen were remanded for seven days by the Kota Kinabalu magistrate's court, three of them for six days by a Tawau magistrate and another one for seven days by the Sandakan magistrate's court.

“This case has seen a huge amount of documents seized and the MACC officers are scrutinising them. They need more time to complete the investigation before handing it over to the public prosecutor for further action."

However, Azam said the probes have not incriminated any state or national level political figures thus far.

Thus he urged the public not to turn a normal investigation into a political matter.

Earlier this month, the MACC arrested the director and deputy director of the Sabah Water Department and seized more than RM100 million in cash.

The duo were investigated for abusing their powers in the award of development projects to companies that were ultimately linked to them.

In a related development, Berita Harian reported that Willis Ansoi from the Sabah Public Works Department is expected fill the director's post at Sabah Water Department to replace the present director who has been suspended.

The Malay daily said Sabah state secretary Sukarti Wakiman has already issued an appointment letter to Willis.