MACC to appeal cancelled remand of Penang exco

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will file an appeal against the Penang High Court's decision to cancel the five-day remand order against Penang state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh and two others issued by the Magistrate's Court here on Saturday.

While saying it respected the ruling, the MACC, in a statement, said it was dissatisfied with the decision made today by Judicial Commissioner Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamed who has set aside the remand order granted by the Magistrate's Court and would appeal the matter to the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya.

"The MACC takes this seriously as the decision has jeopardised its investigation process to complete the investigation papers on Phee and two others into alleged corruption involving an illegal factory operating on agricultural land in Sungai Lembu, Penanti," the statement said here, Monday.

READ: High court sets aside remand order against Boon

READ: Penang exco remanded five days to assist in illegal factory probe

READ: MACC officers raid Penang Exco office

On Friday, Phee, 66, who is chairman of the State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee, and the factory's 70-year-old manager and his 37-year-old son, the factory's director, were arrested to facilitate investigations after the MACC raided the factory on Thursday.

The issue regarding the illegal factory had been raised by PKR's Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin at the State Assembly sitting claiming many illegal factories were allowed to operate in Penanti without any action being taken by the state government.

-- BERNAMA