31/05/2025

SATURDAY | MAY 31, 2025

5 RM32m in assets seized from ‘Tan Sri’

o Property, luxury watches and handbags, cash, premium liquor and vehicles confiscated

in bribes. Since May 9, nine individuals have been arrested, and statements from 31 others recorded. Authorities have also seized RM2.9 million in cash, a Porsche 911 and a Range Rover Sport worth RM900,000, and frozen bank accounts containing RM34 million. The MEX II project, initially scheduled for completion in December 2019, has been delayed due to financial issues faced by the concessionaire, MEX II Sdn Bhd. According to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, the government is working with stakeholders to resolve the impasse. To date, the highway project remains incomplete and stalled.

(MEX II) project. The probe centres on false claims made using proceeds from a RM1.3 billion sukuk issuance, which was meant to fund the construction of the stalled 26km expressway connecting Putrajaya to the KLIA highway. One suspect, who holds a “Datuk Seri” title, has already been arrested. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the first case involves RM361 million in false claims, while the second concerns a fake declaration of RM416 million in sukuk funds and RM50 million in bank loans. The third investigation involves an individual who allegedly solicited and received RM12 million

discovered a collection of premium liquor stored in another property, worth an estimated RM3 million, believed to be linked to money laundering activities. Additionally, a luxury residence in Kuala Lumpur, valued at RM12 million, believed to be owned by the suspect, was also seized. All items and properties were confiscated under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA). Last month, MACC confirmed that it had opened three investigation papers into alleged bribery and false claims involving the Maju Expressway Extension

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized assets worth an estimated RM32 million from a highway concessionaire bearing the title “Tan Sri”, as part of an ongoing probe into the alleged misappropriation of sukuk funds meant for a highway construction in the Klang Valley. A source revealed that during a search on Thursday at two residences in the capital, MACC officers confiscated luxury

handbags,

jewellery,

vehicles, reported

watches

and

cash,

Bernama. Among the seized items were 217 luxury watches of various brands estimated to be worth around RM5 million, 27 handbags worth over RM1 million and jewellery valued at RM4 million. Also seized were nine luxury vehicles including Bentley, Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover models worth nearly RM7 million. The source also said that MACC

Minister wins defamation suit KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has ruled in favour of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and ordered Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff to pay RM400,000 in damages for defamatory remarks he made eight years ago. The decision was delivered by Judge Datuk Aliza Sulaiman, who allowed Yeoh’s claim after finding no merit in the defendant’s submission that she lacked locus standi to initiate the suit. The defamation suit, filed in 2022, arose from two Facebook posts made by Kamarul Zaman between May 10 and May 17, 2017, in which he alleged that Yeoh had a proselytising agenda and was using her political platform to advance Christianity, Bernama reported. He also cited her autobiography, Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey , as evidence of her purported Christian agenda, further alleging that she sought to turn Malaysia into a Christian nation. In his statement of defence, Kamarul Zaman denied that the posts were defamatory and asserted that his statements were justified. Judge Aliza held that the court was satisfied the plaintiff, Yeoh had discharged the burden of proof on a balance of probabilities in establishing that the first and second posts were defamatory of her. “He (defendant) suggests the plaintiff (Yeoh) is a threat to Islam and used her position to ‘Christianise’ the country. “In a multiracial and multireligious country where the issue of religion is, of course, very sensitive, this would surely expose the plaintiff to hatred, ridicule and contempt,” she said. The judge further noted that the defendant had pleaded the defences of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege, but found that none had been successfully established. “Even if the defences of fair comment and qualified privilege were established, the plaintiff had pleaded particulars of malice in the reply to the defence, and in my view has proven on the balance of probabilities that the defendant was actuated by malice,” said the judge. She further held that if the defendant genuinely believed the plaintiff had committed an offence, lodging a police report would have been sufficient. Instead, the defendant chose to publish it on Facebook. Judge Aliza allowed the plaintiff’s claim upon finding that she had established her case on a balance of probabilities and that the defendant had acted with malice. “The court awards RM400,000 as general and aggravated damages to be paid by the defendant to the plaintiff. This means, RM200,000 per publication and RM80,000 in costs,” she said. The judge, however, dismissed Hannah’s application for Kamarul Zaman to issue a public apology, saying that it could be seen as insincere.

225 premises in Selayang raided to check illegal immigrants KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities mounted raids on 225 residences and commercial units in Selayang Utara near here on Thursday night under Op Kachi, to check illegal immigrants. Deputy director for the General Operations Force (GOF) of Bukit Aman’s Internal Security and Public Order Department, Datuk Mohamad Suzrin Mohamad Rodhi, said 1,435 individuals were screened during the integrated operation, which began at 10.45pm and ended at 6am yesterday. Mohamad Suzrin said the majority of them are workers at Selayang Wholesale Market and nearby businesses. He said some of the illegal immigrants held United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees cards, adding that they were handed over to the Immigration Department for verification of the authenticity of the cards. He added that the individuals were also found to have committed various offences under laws enforced by the Immigration Department, Energy Commission, National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall. Mohamad Suzrin said the majority of those screened were workers from the Selayang Wholesale Market and nearby businesses. – BERNAMAPIC Immigration Dept seeks public help to locate foreigner PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department is seeking public assistance to locate a Bangladeshi national who is wanted for trial at the Special Sessions Court for Illegal Immigrants in Semenyih, Selangor. under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966, for possessing a passport or travel document issued to someone else. information are requested to contact the investigating officer, Senior Assistant Director of Immigration Fakhrul Dinie Daroji, at 03-88801338 during office hours, “Myanmar nationals made up the highest count with 1,222 individuals, including 160 children, while the rest comprised citizens of India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia,” he said at a press conference after the operation. “The offences included overstaying, lack of valid travel documents, tampering of electricity metre, illegal water connections, and operating businesses without licences,” he said, adding that accommodations raided had been illegally modified to house a large number of occupants. According to Mohamad Suzrin, the raids were mounted following public complaints regarding the large number of illegal immigrants in the area. Coordinated by the police, the operation also involved the Immigration Department, City Hall, Energy Commission, SPAN, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, St. John Malaysia, and Tenaga Nasional Berhad, with a total of 560 personnel. – Bernama

His last known address is Restoran Zafran, No. 8, Lorong Raja Uda 1, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Members of the public with relevant

Information can also be channelled after office hours to the Immigration Department operations room at 03-88801555. – Bernama

In a statement it said the man, Abdul Momin, 36, is wanted wanted for prosecution