18/06/2026

THURSDAY | JUNE 18, 2026

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MACC nabs 13 over alleged graft

o Case involves payment of RM2.5m linked to monopoly of direct negotiations for govt projects

locations, including residences, office premises and government agency buildings. Authorities seized about RM1.5 million in cash, jewellery worth about RM1 million, a luxury watch, two vehicles and a high-powered motorcycle. The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 for solicitation and acceptance of gratification. MACC said investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the alleged corruption network and identify any other individuals involved.

place between 2024 and 2026. Investigators said contractors involved in the case claimed they were required to pay between 10% and 15% of project values to intermediaries, who then allegedly channelled the payments to the agency’s current and former directors. The arrests followed a large-scale operation dubbed Op Drain, conducted by MACC’s Investigation Division across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang and Perak on Monday. During the operation, enforcement officers raided 25

statements at the Perak MACC office. Of the 13, eight are civil servants while the remaining are company owners and civilians. “Three suspects, two civil servants and a company director, were remanded for two days while the remaining 10 were remanded for five days,” MACC said in a statement yesterday. It added that the remand orders were issued by Magistrate Anis Hanini Abdullah at the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court following an application by the commission. Preliminary investigations showed the alleged offences took

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

The bribes were allegedly paid by contractors as inducement to secure the appointment of companies controlled by cartel-linked agents, allowing them to monopolise direct negotiation and quotation-based projects awarded by the agency. The individuals, comprising 10 men and three women in their 30s to 60s, were arrested between 8pm and 11pm on Monday while providing

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 13 individuals, including a current director and a former director of a government agency, over allegations of soliciting and receiving about RM2.5 million in bribes.

Tragic end to family legacy

KLUANG: A retired soldier’s dream of seeing his youngest daughter continuing the family’s military legacy ended in tragedy when Pbt Siti Khadijah Sungip, 24, was killed during a grenade exercise at Hobart Camp in Gurun, Kedah, on Tuesday. Her father, Sungip Jais, 65, said the deceased, the youngest of seven siblings, joined the Army out of a deep passion for the military and a desire to carry on the family tradition. “She had been interested in the military since childhood. She once told me she wanted to continue the family legacy because I was in the Army as well. “After completing her Diploma in Civil Engineering (Highways and Transportation) at the Mara Higher Skills College in Sri Gading, she applied to join the Army,“ he told Bernama at his residence in Taman Sri Lambak here. Sungip, who served with the Royal Artillery Regiment, added that his daughter was close to the family and had expressed her intention to postpone marriage to care for her parents. “She didn’t want to think about marriage yet because she wanted to look after Mum and Dad first,“ he said. The victim’s elder sister, Siti Zaiha, 39, said Siti Khadijah sent a photograph via WhatsApp at midnight on June 15, which is now the family’s last keepsake. She said the photo showed her sister during a shooting practice session, the most enjoyable part of her training since joining the Army last year. “Siti Khadijah said she had more training the next day and that the grenade exercise would start at about 8am. “However, at about 1pm, I received a call informing me my sister had been involved in an accident. At first, I thought it was a minor mishap or a road accident. “Not long after, I received another call informing me the incident occurred during training and that my sister had passed away,” she said. Siti Zaiha said the loss is tough for the family to accept, as her sister was always cheerful and was her usual self when she returned home for the recent Aidiladha holidays. “The last time we met was a week before Hari Raya Aidiladha. She looked happy as usual and gave no sign of anything amiss,” she said. In the 10.57am incident on Tuesday, Siti Khadijah and another soldier, Kpl Norazmi Abu Bakar, died on the way to the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sungai Petani from injuries sustained in the explosion. Siti Khadijah received the Best Female Recruit (Academic) Award in January for her performance during basic military training at the Army Basic Training Centre in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. Born on Sept 19, 2002, in Kluang, she underwent training as a female recruit with Juliet Company before being posted to the Royal Army Engineers Regiment.

Baderulhisham showing some of the seized packages of ganja during the press conference. – BERNAMAPIC

RM1.17m ganja seized at northern ICQS ALOR SETAR: Police have seized 14.6kg of ganja buds worth an estimated RM1.17 million from a car at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex. Kedah deputy police chief DCP

distribution chain and other individuals involved. “The suspect, who also tested positive for ganja , has been remanded for six days to assist investigations. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping upon conviction. “Kedah police will continue to intensify enforcement operations, particularly at the country’s entry points, to curb drug smuggling activities. Public cooperation is greatly appreciated in providing any information related to drug trafficking and smuggling activities to the police,” he said. He added that the public could channel information to any police station or through the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department hotline at 012-208 7222. – Bernama

headquarters on Tuesday. He said preliminary investigations found the suspect is believed to have acted as a courier for a drug smuggling syndicate that brought supplies in from a neighbouring country before distributing them to markets in Kuala Lumpur and Johor. “The modus operandi involved obtaining drug supplies from the Danok area in Thailand and bringing them into Malaysia through the ICQS Complex. “The suspect claimed he became involved in the activity on May 25 and admitted to having smuggled drugs into the country on four previous occasions, delivering them to locations instructed by the syndicate in return for RM4,000 per delivery,” he said. Baderulhisham said further investigations were underway to identify the syndicate’s full network, including the source of supply,

Baderulhisham Baharudin said a 24-year-old Malaysian driver of the car, who is also a student at a private higher education institution in Kuala Lumpur, was arrested during the operation on Monday. “An inspection of the suspect’s family owned four-wheel-drive vehicle led to the discovery of 13 black plastic packages containing substances believed to be ganja buds, hidden beneath the rear passenger seat. “The drugs have the potential to ruin the lives of hundreds of thousands of people had they reached the market,” he told a press conference at the Kedah police contingent

Bid to smuggle batik from Thailand foiled KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force Southeast Brigade has seized more than 8,000 pieces of smuggled batik cloth from Thailand and a lorry in an operation in Kampung Simpangan, Tumpat. Nibong, and saw a lorry arriving at the site, along with a boat from Thailand carrying several gunny sacks. “Several men were seen transferring the sacks onto the lorry. The team then stopped the vehicle in Kampung Simpangan and checked it,” he said in a statement. Its commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the operation began at 7.30am on Tuesday when the raiding team used a drone to conduct observation of an illicit jetty in The inspection found that the sacks contained 8,800 pieces of batik cloth believed

to have been smuggled in from Thailand, he said, adding that a man, aged 32, was arrested and the merchandise (worth RM1.76 million) and the lorry (worth RM80,000) were seized. The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, he said, adding that the suspect and the seized items have been handed to the Pengkalan Kubor Customs Department for further action. – Bernama