8 Sept 2011

MACC 'visits' Ho Hup's office

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) officers were at the headquarters of the Ho Hup Construction Company Bhd, a company alleged to have done renovations for Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail's house. Popular political blog Malaysia Today broke the news late yesterday evening, calling the incident yesterday afternoon a “raid”.

When contacted, a Ho Hup official who requested anonymity said the incident was merely a short visit. “It was not a raid as portrayed and they were here to question my boss. However, as he was not around they waited for 10 minutes until he arrive.

“After having a short discussion, they left,” the official said, adding that the MACC spent less than 30 minutes at the scene. When asked whether the MACC took any documents with them as alleged, the official replied in the negative and the source said he does not know what the visit was about.Phone calls and text messages to MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali and chief commissioner Abu Kasim Mohamed to obtain a clarification went unanswered.

The Ho Hup-Abdul Gani link was first drawn by Malaysia Today who alleged that the attorney-general had helped the company's former director Vincent Lye to topple his rival Low Tuck Choy. On Jan 26, Low was charged in court for non-timely disclosure of his interests in the company.

Malaysia Today alleged that Abdul Gani had received gratification in form of a RM18,000 renovation job for a bungalow in Seremban. Alleged copies of the invoices and cheques were used to back the claims. Abdul Gani has since denied the allegations and said he does not own properties in Seremban.

Meanwhile, social activist and former MACC advisor Robert Phang told Malaysiakini that Abdul Gani should go on leave pending investigations.

“This is what I did when I resigned from the MACC advisory board member, as allegation surfaced in a blog that I was involved in corrupt practices. “I resigned as I did not want to bring the MACC into it and disrupt investigations. Abdul Gani should do the same and maintain the good name of the AG's Chambers. A mere denial does not absolve him,” he said.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/175144

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