'MACC should probe Bersatu division leader in stimulus package case'

Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the MACC should thoroughly investigate the case involving the arrest of a Bersatu division leader from the Federal Territories.

This comes after MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the arrest of a 42-year-old man late yesterday in relation to the alleged misappropriation of the RM92.5 billion Covid-19 stimulus package funds.

According to a report by The Star, Faizal (above) said he found it strange that the case is linked to the party and the party president.

“Yes, investigate the case, but it should not be a political ploy to demonise the previous administration.

“There are a lot of party members who are close to the president, including me.

“I believe that the party’s president has not done anything wrong, but nevertheless let MACC investigate the case,” he said when contacted.

Remanded until Jan 10

The stimulus package was deployed under the Perikatan Nasional government which took over just as Covid-19 was hitting Malaysia.

It is understood that the detained man has links to Bersatu’s leadership.

Faizal said he could have been given projects as well.

“But that did not happen. I never got any projects,” he added.

The chief executive officer of a private company was arrested late on Friday under suspicion of being a middle person in the distribution of government projects under the economic stimulus package between 2020 and 2022.

A source from MACC said the man, who is believed to have accepted bribes to serve as an intermediary in the projects involved, was arrested after having his statement recorded at the MACC headquarters.

The case is being investigated under Section 16 (a) of the MACC Act 2009.

The Putrajaya Magistrates’ Court allowed for the man to be remanded from Jan 6 until Jan 10 to allow MACC to complete the investigation papers.

Last month, MACC issued a statement over the investigation that was focused on government funds amounting to RM92.5 billion under the economic stimulus and recovery initiative.

It said initial investigations revealed that the amount of allocation was estimated at RM530 billion, and based on that amount, only RM92.5 billion involved government funds while the rest was not.

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