MACC arrests director, MBI Kedah exec over rare earth mining - Sanusi: MACC hasn’t called me over rare earth probe

Malaysiakini : The MACC has reportedly arrested a senior official at Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated (MBI Kedah) as well as a company director in relation to alleged illegal mining operations for rare earth elements (REE).

According to a report by Harian Metro today, the graftbuster arrested the 63-year-old MBI Kedah top executive in Alor Setar and a 40-year-old director in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday evening. So Jufazli's tip was right on the dot!

Both are being remanded for three days until Friday to facilitate investigations into allegations of abuse of power bribery involving over RM13 million.

“The remand orders were respectively issued by Magistrate Wan Shahida Abd Rahim at the Alor Setar Magistrate’s Court and Magistrate Che Hashim at the Shah Alam Magistrate’s Court, following remand applications by the MACC,” a source was quoted as saying. 

MBI Kedah is a state-owned entity under the Kedah government. The source reportedly claimed the company was conducting illegal mining operations under the protection of “certain authorities” since 2020.

Bribe over RM13m?

“Investigations found several payments suspected to involve bribery totalling over RM13 million paid to the company as inducement to protect the illegal mining activities from 2020 to 2023,” the source claimed.

Read it all here.......

Malaysiakini : Sanusi: MACC hasn’t called me over rare earth probe.

Malaysiakini : Caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he has not been summoned by the MACC over its investigation on misappropriation and abuse of power in the mining of rare earth elements (REE). In a Facebook post today, Sanusi questioned how news claiming he was being probed had made rounds “preceding the process”.

“So far, no MACC officers have come to meet or summon me over its investigation into the REE mining case. None. “But rumours and news about it have been spreading since two to three days ago... isn’t this strange and suspicious? Are they trying to seek the truth and uphold the law or smear one’s image?

Read it all here......