The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh over alleged letters issued by his office.

It is believed that the letters involved an illegal factory in Seberang Perai, which was raided by MACC yesterday.

Phee oversees the environment, welfare and caring society portfolio.

Phee was told that he was under arrest about 3.30pm, after he went to MACC's office in Penang to give a statement on the matter around 2.40pm.

"However, as he was giving his statement, the MACC officers said he is under arrest. He will be brought to court for remand tomorrow morning," Phee's lawyer RSN Rayer told Malaysiakini.

"I am mystified as to why he needs to be arrested. He was already giving his statement, it is not necessary to be detained," added the DAP Seri Delima assemblyperson.

Rayer was uncertain about the reason for Phee’s arrest by the anti-graft commission.

"I am not sure, but it is over some letters he signed," the lawyer said.

Earlier, MACC "raided" Phee's office in Komtar.

Reporters gathered outside the office as early as 11.30am. The officers left around 1pm.

MAAC team came from Putrajaya

One of the MACC officers said the team was from the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya but declined to reveal the reason for their presence.

"Wait for our statement," the officer said when quizzed.

Phee, who is Sungai Puyu assemblyperson, also declined to comment on the matter. 

The MACC officer was also asked if the raid was related to an illegal factory in Penang and whether they had seized any documents. The officer refused to comment.

Meanwhile, MACC deputy director Azam Baki said he does not rule out the possibility that there may be a series of arrests following Phee's detention today.

Azam was quoted by Astro Awani as saying that Phee was arrested under Section 23 of the MACC Act for abuse of power related to the illegal factory operations.

According to the New Straits Times (NST), MACC had raided the illegal sawdust factory in Sungai Lembu because no action had been taken by the Penang authorities.

The factory was believed to have been operating illegally on agricultural land.

The NST further reported that the graft-buster had also raided the factory's office and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP)'s Licensing Department.

They were accompanied by officers from the Inland Revenue Board. Both authorities seized documents related to the case during the raids.

The raids came merely a week after Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng signed the "Corruption Free Plus 10" pledge with the MACC.

Lim himself was charged in the High Court in Penang last year with two counts of corruption for the purchase of a bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn.