Five people, including the chairman of a government agency, have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over an investigation into the alleged sale of government-linked land in Penang below market value.
The case involves eight plots of land in South Seberang Perai that were reportedly disposed of in 2015, with investigators estimating losses of about RM1.96 million.
Sources said the chairman, a Datuk in his 50s, is being investigated over allegations that he had abused his position when he was serving as deputy chairman and a board member of the agency.
He allegedly approved the sale of the eight plots to a company said to be linked to an associate.
The other four people detained were two company directors, a technical manager and a female clerk.
All five suspects, who are in their 40s and 50s, were arrested separately at the Penang MACC office between 11am and noon on Thursday.
They are expected to be brought before the George Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday for a remand application to facilitate further investigations.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests when contacted.
The investigation centres on whether there was an abuse of authority in the land disposal process and whether the alleged below-market transaction caused financial losses to the government agency.
