Arrest of exco: Johor govt will cooperate fully with MACC - MB

The Johor government respects the arrest of a state executive councillor (Exco) by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday to facilitate investigations into alleged corruption and embezzlement of property in the state, said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said the state government reaffirmed its commitment to provide the necessary cooperation needed by the revelant authorities and will not interfere in any process of the investigation.

"The state government is of the opinion that it is important and critical to let the authorities and law enforcement process to run smoothly and free.

"It is our pledge and commitment to ensure development and administration of Johor is free from any problem of malpractice and corruption," he said in a statement here today.

Mohamed Khaled said he therefore called upon all members of the state government and civil society to cooperate and not to see the issue in a hasty and emotional manner.

He also urged all parties to focus on their work to ensure uninterrupted management of state government services.

"At the same time, the state government hopes that justice and truth will be reached by all parties," he said.

Yesterday, the state executive councillor, aged 51 years, who had opted to go on leave from March 1 pending investigations into corruption and misappropriation of property in the state, was detained at the Johor MACC office after giving a statement on the case.

This morning, Johor Bahru High Court senior assistant registrar Nur Sulehan Abd Rahman allowed the MACC's application to remand the exco for a week from today until March 16.

MACC Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Azam Baki when contacted by Bernama yesterday said the MACC detained the Exco for investigation into alleged corruption and embezzlement of property in the state. -- BERNAMA