Two executives of a Malaysia-based resort were detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in connection with a land transfer deal.
The local media did not identify the company by name but described it as a ‘well-known resort.’ The disputed land is located in Pahang Province. MACC initiated the investigation after discovering that the land, originally owned by the state government, had been transferred to the resort company, which subsequently carried out road construction on site.
According to the report, it is understood that, aside from the resort company’s payment of certain bribes to the relevant government departemnt, other ownership transfer processes were completed hastily.
Sources indicate that the land was granted to the resort company for development, with a portion earmarked for a road serving as the main route to the resort.
MACC has applied to the court for the remand of two suspects, aged 67 and 52, to assist in the investigation of the land ownership modification. The two detained individuals hold senior executive positions in the resort company and will be held for four days starting last Thursday (January 4th).
The same source pointed out that MACC launched the investigation under Article 17 (a) of the Anti-Corruption Association Act of 2009.
Earlier, a photo circulating on the internet depicted a construction project on the road leading to a famous resort, sparking discussions and speculation among netizens that a toll station might be constructed there.
The local government asserted that the toll station construction project at the site was unrelated to them. The government also issued a statement clarifying that the road was not a federally classified highway but a private road that was not connected to any toll highways in the area.
AGB has sent an inquiry to MACC, yet while publishing this article, there has been no answer.